Crisis management: Call on an Expert
Restructuring , change of computer system, upheaval of the group’s strategy, sale of activity, … During an exceptional event, exceptional measures must be put in place. Whatever the crisis situation, calling on an expert in transition management aims to quickly manage change, in the best conditions. This is the role of the interim manager in times of crisis .
Who is the interim manager?
The interim manager is an actor external to the company . It is a senior executive who will intervene in a strategic position in the company, for a fixed period. Highly qualified, he is able to straighten the bar and get the company out of its difficulties. Its mission is to take the company from point A to point B. This is where the word “ transition ” takes on its full meaning. And to achieve this, it maintains the culture of results, based on evaluation.
To react to the crisis, we must act quickly. The interim manager intervenes urgently to solve the problem. When he arrives, he is ready to act, and is dedicated to his mission. Companies call on him to steer the project and find an effective and above all quick solution. Because in the crisis, the primordial aspect is time.
In an emergency, the leader tends to isolate himself or want to do everything himself. However, in times of crisis , this is the best way to make mistakes. To best manage the situation, you need to have a global vision of the company. This is why it is necessary to know how to get help to save the situation. The interim manager is a qualified specialist who will be able to envisage a resolution of the crisis at all levels of the company by organizing a global action plan. His eye takes the company as a whole, where a leader will tend to see only the surface aspects of the problem.
How the interim manager manages the crisis
1) Set course quickly
The interim manager will quickly set up a crisis unit. He then presents an action plan that will affect the entire structure: human resources, managers, IT services, etc. The levers he uses to drive change are diverse and all aim to keep control of the company’s situation and save the day.
2) Organize the logistical means
The second step will be to prepare the necessary equipment and mobilize the infrastructure. He organizes the withdrawal to sites affected by the crisis while bringing together the company’s other sites. He identifies the personnel authorized to deliver the communication messages, and thus sets in motion his action plan.
3) Organize the way out of the crisis
Once the actions have been taken, it is time to set up the way out of the crisis: feedback meeting, preparation of diagnoses and crisis management reports, etc. He is gradually preparing for a return to normal while observing the results of the initiatives carried out.
4) Anticipate a possible next crisis
The objective of the interim manager is to ensure the sustainability of the actions that he puts in place. The actions undertaken must continue to be in place once its mission is completed. It thus gives the keys to the teams and managers to continue to move the company forward in the direction defined, while preparing for any future crises. He will anticipate and imagine crisis scenarios while proposing solutions to get out of them.
