Is there ever a time when it is the right thing to hire outside senior executives for short term assignments in a software or hardware company? If you are based in the US, technical company boards and senior leadership do not seem to have the most specific response to the question of using interim management.
There are obviously many exceptions to this statement. But in most cases when an executive position opens, the next person in that role hires another permanent executive. Much of the idea of too short the time of reflexion is given to some other possible solution.
In small cases where someone is designated in a role with the tag “interim”, it is usually someone from inside the company. In the case of an interim CEO, it is often a current board member.
Let us look at some areas where a senior interim executive should be hired:
Gaps covered with interim management:
This is probably the most common reason for using C-level interim management. One executive has left the company – voluntarily or not. The team needs leadership. You can try to fill this gap by temporarily putting the team under another functional area manager or more junior executive, but of course this is not optimal. Bringing in an experienced interim can often be a great solution allowing you to move the momentum in the area of concern in the right direction, while allowing the company to take the time and a careful, thoughtful hiring process for the next permanent executive.
Change agents:
There are many different reasons that a company may benefit from the use of a change agent. One of the more common scenarios is a company undergoing financial pressure. Although a new permanent freight may take the necessary steps, sometimes it may be beneficial to use an interim manager such as a fleeting change agent to take these steps. An interim can step in and work fast, while the right permanent fare can take a very long time in situations where time is important.
Interim management can serve as change agents in tech companies:
Sometimes a situation arises in companies where conflict over policy or personality is tearing the company down. In these cases, bring in an interim manager with a previous “dog in the hunt”, who may allow him to be in the role of an impartial, honest arbiter to bridge the divide between the warring factions.
Manage a specific project:
The ultimate common reason for retaining senior interim management executive officers in a technology company is the ubiquitous “special project”. There are many good reasons to bring a temporary senior resource for special projects. Sometimes a project is very, very challenging, and it makes sense to bring the most efficient, experience expertise to lift the odds of success.
International Executive Consulting LLC provides C-Level interim executive services to software and hardware companies, in addition to core management consulting services. If you would like to discuss the potential need for an interim executive, contact us using the information below.
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International Executive Consulting LLC Advisory Board, a seamless platform for CEOs and business owners to leverage the Advisory Board in a more flexible and on-demand model. The IEC hand-picked each consultant for their ability to help business leaders quickly find value. Business leaders can easily communicate and contract with expert advisors from a range of industries and backgrounds on a need basis.
“It is alone at the top. As CEO Cyril Moreau of International Executive Consulting LLC commented, CEOs and business owners are often looking for a reliable source of peer outside their inner circle, which is usually within a particular area of expertise. “They may question the source or agenda of the person giving the initial input; They may accept that they do not have expertise internally; Or they may need an external perspective that a member of their executive team cannot give them. We kept receiving comments from business leaders saying that from I just need to talk to someone. In response, we created the IEC Advisory Board, a trusted community for business leaders who receive expert advice on a particular topic or industry. ”
Some common discussions with consultants include business leaders:
Discuss operational frustrations and some first steps to resolve them
International Executive Consulting LLC consultants consist of a group of selected senior level executives with decades of experience in leading organizations of all sizes in various industries. He was chosen for his ability to ask the right questions and provide valuable insights.
The organization was a non-profit that operates more equally for a profit. At that time their problems were spread throughout the organizational structure. Senior managers were concerned about keeping the business alive. They struggled to find the right person to be the new CEO and knew of the existence of many issues but were unable to point to or address them.
This non-profit organization was in dire need of timely and skilled leadership talent. This was the talent he tried to find with a CEO hire that did not go as expected, and the position was open again. The right kind of talent is something that can take a long time to find. The executive may then have on-boarding or training to speed it up. In his position, the demand for leadership was a quick and low-risk decision.
The nonprofit hired our interim CEO. He began reviewing the budget and reducing all expenses that were not necessary. They then adjusted the management structure so that department heads were assigned more responsibility and shifted to understanding the entire organizational culture and being part of the bigger picture.
Nonprofits also needed to change how they got closer to new technologies and use them. The Interim CEO revised the software management and organized the new smartphone app. He also improved external communications and opened a new off-site call center.
He anticipated that there should be a decrease in operating staff and an increase in marketing staff – which, once implemented, proved a good sales decision.
The results of the interim CEO’s engagement were:
The board said it was “hard to believe” how quickly and easily the new interim CEO transitioned. They implemented economical, technological, cultural and operational changes that resulted in maintaining and even improving large nonprofit businesses; All of which happened within just six months. The board decided to offer a long-term role as an interim CEO with the company.
To learn more about how interim management can help and more information about interim officers, please visit our home page by clicking here.
The interim talent — the “gig economy” —is one of the best kept secrets at every level and all successful companies know it. These days, the size of a company is not judged by its workforce. Big companies like WhatsApp and Instagram can be valued in the billions. With this small size, this team is still paying money to the company.
How Interim Executives Increase Company Worth:
We urge you to explore the possibilities of interim, part-time and project-to-perm models next time you find yourself staring at a problem that seems absolutely impossible. You should not always hire a full-time VP to gain VP expertise. You can get all the knowledge, skills, qualifications and qualifications of a Big Six consultant or (top-tier competitor) in a small package, depending on when you need it, a few days a week or a few months at a time. your needs.
International Executive Consulting LLC offers contract executive on a part-time, temporary, interim and project basis. IEC has a network of thousands of executives from operations, finance, sales, marketing, manufacturing, IT, human resources and more. They are available to step into companies in a wide variety of industries and sizes on short notice to fill a sudden gap in leadership, run an important initiative or impart specialized skills and knowledge for a temporary period. IE Consulting LLC serves clients of all sizes from virtually every industry.
To learn more about how International Executive Consulting LLC can help you and interim executives, please click here to visit our home page.
A small business does not need to make large-scale changes in its business processes to massively increase profits. Here we provide five strategies that you can use to improve your business. Today we will go to a system that you can use to increase your profit margin. By using this system, your profit margin can increase.
Increase Your Customer Base:
To increase the number of people who will come and buy from you, it will take time to develop a good marketing strategy. First, find the key differentiators. Examine the products that make you unique and attractive to potential buyers. After doing this one can find a place that can be tapped into, start working on specific marketing strategies to attract those customers.
The key is to streamline the sales process. At that point, the entire process is no longer driven by you, but by the system, and the sales process can be repeated over and over. You will continue to attract customers to your business without joining your marketing or sales team.
Increase in Number of Repeat Customers:
The more buyers, the more profit. Despite repeated sales, it does not take action and is getting those customers to repurchase your products. Providing excellent service is the basis, but it is not enough. Give customers a reason to return and you can do so by asking them to return. Deepen your relationship with them by adding to mailing lists, offering catalogs, and loyalty cards to name a few. Repeat opportunities for your customers to revisit your business
Increase in Average Selling Price:
Explore ways to sell more than one product at a time. This can be done by cross-selling; For example, see which products are related or complementary and offer customers to buy more plans than before. Refer to a customer for a product of a higher value or better deal (this may be more profitable for you), known as up-selling. Another example of increasing the average selling price is to bundle products together (a low-margin product with a high-margin product, one that sells well with someone who does not, etc.).
Increase Profit:
To increase profitability, focus on operational efficiency and avoid discounts. If it is a small business, the exemption should be at the bottom of the list. Sometimes they are unavoidable, such as when some products are not selling and they are replacing. These exemptions are a requirement but should not be used as a business strategy for profit growth. Find out how many of those items need to be sold to reach the same profit margin.
Reduce Costs to Increase Your Profit Margin:
Then, improve operational efficiency and minimize overhead costs. Keep in mind that some overhead costs are highly beneficial for the business, so be cautious about which costs are being cut; Do not take a reverse step.
Indicate the things that should cost more than them or at all. Adopt lean thinking and help cut the drains. By learning how to increase your profit margin, you will be able to run a successful business.
Visit International Executive Consulting LLC and we can help you. For more information about the C Level Executive, please see us by clicking here.
Cyril Moreau, the interim CEO and turnaround expert, leverages a planned approach to assess how far and how fast you need to change.
When does a business decide it needs to fundamentally change course or steer the risk altogether? Turnaround expert Cyril Moreau looks at some of the lessons learned during a typical interim CEO career.
“When the signs of potential failure become apparent, I am often approached by shareholders to review their business for its turnaround potential. They are almost always seeking answers to three fundamental questions:
Can the business be fixed?
What will it cost to get us back on track?
Is it worth paying?
There is certainly no magic formula to answer these questions, but many years spent around unsuccessful businesses have taught me that there are some steps that will help stakeholders make the very much needed difficult decisions.”
Assessing the Industry and Understanding the Commercial Environment:
The troubled business that is getting under the skin of the region, combined with adjacent industries, is going to expose potential areas of opportunity for future gains as well as give an overall picture of the company’s potential direction. It will begin to provide an indication of the scale of the challenge and the costs associated with getting back on the road to development.
Assessing the Company Properly:
It is important to identify significant liabilities and risks as well as significant assets from a strategic business point of view, and not just from a cash-value point of view.
This knowledge gained through research, relationships, intuition and experience will be used in the creative planning process as well as in the final assessment of risk versus reward.
Plotting A Course for Creative Planning and Long-Term Success:
The creative planning process involves assessing the ‘box of bits’, in which the company has to find out what can be done to make money in the short and long term.
It is important to remember that these two commercial timelines can generate different agendas, as short-term cash generic activities may not be sustainable or aligned with the strong strategic market position desired over the long term. However, a dual focus on both may be required during the turnaround to reduce the cash cost of running the business.
Turnaround Evaluation:
You need to have a clear view of whether it is worth the cost, effort and risk involved. You need to understand that the business will potentially be worth the shareholders who are considering turnaround funding. You need a road map to rule out the estimated travel time and any possible damage along the way.
Whether you need someone to deliver a business transformation, to guide you through a merger or acquisition, or to fill a skills gap on a short-term basis; Interim managers bring with them a special set of skills and experiences.
It is the versatility of interim managers that gives them an edge. They fill gaps in the skill set and experience of an organization. And on a more practical level, they will be used to navigate tight deadlines, high pressure situations, and established teams.
Interim managers are well suited to helping organizations solve a wide range of problems:
Fast Results:
Interim Managers are a quick start solution, which means they are able to make a direct impact. He is hired for a specific need, and this has been his focus since day one. And with their assignments ticking, they are motivated to dive right in.
Focus on Delivery:
The purpose of hiring an interim manager is to ensure that your organization achieves its intended business goal. This goal may be to successfully implement a new system, deliver a major transformation program, or ensure a smooth merger or acquisition. Whatever it is, an interim manager will take a laser-focused approach to achieving that goal.
Intermediates focus only on outcomes and outcomes. As they will only be in business for a limited time, they will not be distracted by their future concerns in business. Nor will they associate themselves with internal politics. And it allows the interim to be fair, focused on the best interests of your company.
Specialized Expertise:
Interim managers bring with you a specific skill set to meet your business needs and have a strong track record of helping other companies overcome the challenges facing your business.
At the senior executive level, interim experience is often experienced in many areas and disciplines. The quality and range of their skill sets will be more sophisticated than a full-time position that would normally demand.
Lasting Legacy:
Interim managers will work with internal teams and spend time mentoring and coaching them. This will not only ensure a smooth change when the contract expires, but also ensure that they leave a lasting legacy so that the organization is better equipped to respond to future challenges and opportunities.
The need to involve external organizations in business change often results in a lack of internal capacity to cope with the change. Change is always on the agenda and organizations are recognizing the need to build more sensitive, more flexible and more adaptive teams. Interim managers can help empower and nurture internal talent to embed the positive legacy of an agile, change-able business.
These days, businesses are facing steep challenges. To deal with the cutthroat competition, stressful situation as well as the challenges of your respective field; you need a professional consulting service that can help you out with well thought off strategies and planned action steps. They can make a valued contribution in your respective field by making your operations more streamlined and thereby increasing the profit level. An Interim Consultant is not just a professional. He/She is a reliable guide who can show you the ways to manage your business the right way and grow in a quick span of time. With the help of an experienced and expert consultant, you can improve the productivity level and profit margin. Have a look at the few important advantages that you can benefit from with Interim Executive Consulting LLC.
Branding:
A comprehensive branding initiative is important to offer a competitive edge to all corporate houses. Therefore, an effective branding strategy is highly important for you if you have to flourish at a rapid pace in your domain. A professional Interim Consultant comes handy to you in this regard. An Interim CEO can help you identify the strongest areas of your services. What’s more, he/she can offer you excellent guidance in terms of targeting particular demographic groups which are going to be beneficial for your business. At the same time, he/she can improvise market specific plan of action and well-defined objectives to give your products or services impressive brand equity in the market.
Minimizing Risk:
Minimization of risk elements is definitely a vital concern for your business. If you have eyes for achieving a standard level of success in your respective field in a limited time span, you have to work out effective ways of curtailing risk. A professional Interim Consultant can help you shape up strategies, which are going to reduce the risks of a loss. He can also guide you in taking calculated risks.
Rapid Cost Reduction and Containment:
An Interim Business Consultant can assume the most significant role by preventing the cost factors from going out of control. Interim Executive Consulting LLC perfectly analyzes the financial responsibilities of the company. We can help you a lot in the area of cost reduction and containment with proper planning and implementation. You are also going to find them highly useful at a crucial moment when you are planning to go for mergers or acquisitions to take the financial loads off your shoulders.
Contact us now for the best Rapid Cost Reduction Services for your business growth.
A mid economic upheaval and increasing challenges, what is the best source of sound, applicable counsel available to the CEO? This is a simple question, but of great importance for the development of small and mid-size businesses (SMEs). At different times a leader may want to use specialized expertise, generate a strategic decision or strengthen discussion around business development. There are many possible sources of professional advice; the executive team, shareholders, peers, professional advisors, family, etc. each have its pros and cons, but an Interim C-Level Executive can certainly provide the kind of results Leaders of small and midsize businesses can expect from their chosen soothsayer.
By working with many CEOs over the years on several specific projects, many clients understood C-Levels to be a higher level and strategic guidance of a more general nature. There seems to be a growing demand for such comprehensive high-level advice, which is not available to any one person. This contemporary body of research was sponsored and shared. This gives a staggering revelation of the kind of impact that experienced consulting business can have on productivity and profitability.
Although large organizations often have a board of directors, many SMEs are not in a position to use the benefits of such a formal structure, for several reasons. However, it is well within the capacity of a small to medium-sized organization to employ the services of an advisory board. It is a relatively straightforward way of accessing expertise, know-how and depth of experience, and yet it is a far more flexible approach, especially if the leader of an organization is focused on getting further perspectives and guidance, as opposed to rear-view oversight which was practiced by most corporate boards.
The outstanding feature of the BDC methodology is their use of metrics to determine the value of the use of advisory boards. Two major highlights of the research found that organizations with an advisory board reported that they enjoyed 24% higher sales and 18% higher productivity than the higher board less’ control group. 86% of these SMEs were also “respondents who benefited from the advice of their advisory board and believe that it had a significant impact on their company”. Those results speak volumes. So far BDC reports that only 6% of American SMEs have formed advisory boards to assist them. The study concludes that “the role, operations and benefits of this governance tool should be highly promoted to American business leaders to help them better manage their company’s success.”
Based on this trailblazing study, and by tapping into the depth and breadth of the talent pool at C-Level, we have developed a consistent approach to help clients actively establish their own advisory board. This approach reduces time, effort, and risk; and provides immediate direction by focusing on upcoming major issues; be it vision, profitability, increased sales, strategic initiatives or enhanced transactions.
Have you considered the benefits of an advisory board? Care to see the findings of the entire BDC research? Potential benefits are indisputable.
No matter what business owners do, businesses will always run into a rough patch where things all seem to go wrong. To deal with this rough patch, you sometimes need someone with a specific skill set to help get your business out of this tough time. This is where interim leadership comes in. Through interim leadership, you can find that specific person with expertise in a certain area to help your company.
What is Interim Leadership:
Now as the name suggests, interim leadership is leadership on a temporary basis. These executives are usually brought in for a short time period or on a project basis. The reason is these executives are highly specialized. Not only do they have the specific skills needed to fix the problems, they also have years of experience to back these skills up. You may be wondering if this form of leadership is another form of consultants. That is not the case. The main difference between a consultant and an interim, is that not only does interim leadership advise your company, but they also can execute on the solutions to assist your company.
The Benefits:
When comparing an interim to a full-time hire, there are 2 main benefits in choosing the interim route. One benefit is the flexibility they provide. A full-time hire may not have the background expertise in each of the areas needed the company may encounter. With interim leadership, you can hire one executive who has the expertise for a specific project or situation the company is facing such as new channel expansion. Once this is launched, another set of expertise may be needed to achieve the company’s goals. The second benefit of an interim is the cost. There are no hidden costs with an Interim Executive such as pension or paid vacation. Interim leadership is a more flexible model where you can pay as you go, only for what is worked on.
For the various challenges your company will face throughout its life, it may not make sense to hire a new full time executive. This is where an interim comes in. Interim leadership is flexible and highly specialized, so whatever the challenge your company may face, an interim can be the superhero that saves the day!
To learn about how International Executive Consulting LLC can help you and for more information on interim executives, please visit our home page by Clicking Here.