"Management for hire" and "interim management" are terms often used interchangeably when discussing temporary leadership solutions. However, there are important differences between the two that you should be aware of.
Management for Hire Is Not the Same as Interim Leadership
While both involve hiring a highly qualified leader on a temporary basis, the key differences lie in the process of selecting the right candidate and the level of quality assurance involved. We can define the terms as follows:
Management for hire is a broad term that includes temporary management and other management-related resources, including—but not limited to—interim management. Often, it refers to individuals or small networks offering their own or colleagues’ services, or consulting firms providing temporary executives.
As a client, you typically choose from a limited pool of candidates who are available at that moment, meaning your selection is somewhat predetermined. If you hire a consultant, they may perform well in some roles but might not be the right fit for leadership positions. Consultants are typically experts in their field, specializing in analysis, advisory work, and proposing solutions—not necessarily leading an organization.
If you need a senior executive, an interim leader is usually the better choice.
Interim leadership provides rapid access to the right leadership competence for a fixed period, based on a thorough selection and qualification process. The candidate is chosen after a detailed situation analysis and from a large pool of highly qualified leaders, following a rigorous vetting and interview process to ensure the best match for the role.
Interim management is commonly used at executive levels, but also for middle management and project leadership roles. An interim manager is a highly capable and overqualified leader who has successfully handled similar roles before and can step into the company immediately, assess the situation, and take the necessary actions without requiring training.
It is often said that interim management is the elite division of leadership, and I find that to be a fitting metaphor. If you go to a consulting firm, you might get the best consultant available at that moment. If you hire an interim leader from a specialized provider with a strong network and satisfied clients, you get the most optimal leadership solution for your specific needs—an interim leader selected from thousands of candidates, who is fully operational from day one.
7 Key Traits of an Exceptional Interim Manager
Every year, Interimleder AS selects Norway’s Best Interim Manager. The winner, chosen by an independent jury, must have demonstrated exceptional leadership and proven results. Through this process, we have identified seven key traits that define top interim leaders. These traits illustrate what an interim manager truly is and what you can expect when working with us:
A great interim manager is:
- Operational from day one
- Decisive and action-oriented
- Clear and direct
- Motivational and empathetic
- Highly competent
- A person of integrity
- Results-driven
How We Work with Interim Management
As Norway’s first specialized provider of interim managers, we have placed hundreds of executives and line managers in companies across various industries since 2001. Over the years, we have perfected our methodology and built the largest network of interim managers in the country. Through our partnership with Globalise, we have access to over 30,000 candidates, including 3,000 Norwegian interim managers.
Whether you need to fill a critical leadership role, improve performance, drive business development, or manage a restructuring, we can help you find the right leadership solution for your unique needs within 10 days.
Conclusion
"Management for hire" and "interim management" are often used interchangeably when discussing temporary leadership. However, there is a clear distinction between them:
- Management for hire is a broad service offered by individuals, small groups, and consulting firms, with varying levels of quality assurance and candidate selection.
- Interim management is a specialized service provided by a select few firms with access to a vast pool of qualified candidates and expertise in analyzing, selecting, and vetting leaders who can step directly into executive, management, or project leadership roles.
It’s also important to recognize the "genetic" differences between a leader, a consultant, and an administrator.
Anyone can be "management for hire," but not everyone can be an interim manager.
FAQ
1. What is the difference between management for hire and interim management?
Management for hire is a broad term for temporary leadership, whereas interim management provides rapid access to the right executive talent for a fixed period, based on a rigorous selection and vetting process. Not all management-for-hire services include this level of quality assurance and candidate selection—for example, independent freelancers or consultants may not undergo the same scrutiny.
2. Why choose interim management over other forms of management for hire?
Interim management offers access to a larger pool of qualified leaders, all of whom have gone through a strict vetting process and situational analysis. This ensures you get a leader whose profile perfectly matches your needs and who is fully operational from day one.
3. What defines a great interim manager?
A great interim manager is: operational from day one, decisive, clear, motivational, competent, ethical, and results-driven.
4. What is Interimleder AS' approach to interim management?
Since 2001, Interimleder AS has placed hundreds of executives in companies across industries. We have the largest network of interim managers in Norway, partnering with Globalise to access 30,000+ candidates, including 3,000 Norwegian interim managers. We can provide you with the right leadership solution within 10 days.
