Crisis management is a pressing concern due to ongoing stagnation: an analysis of its urgency
In the dynamic business landscape, medium-sized enterprises often find themselves grappling with stagnant sales, rising costs, and growing team dissatisfaction - signs of an approaching crisis that are frequently overlooked for too long. However, these challenging times can serve as a wake-up call, pushing everyone out of their comfort zone and fostering a readiness for action and change.
Enter interim management, a strategic approach that has proven beneficial in such situations. The Federal Association of Medium-Sized Enterprises in Germany, BVMID, advocates for the strengthening of economic, social, and political interests of medium-sized enterprises, and it maintains a close relationship with interim management firms such as Campsis Consulting, with Hartwig Goertler, an internationally experienced Executive Interim Manager, serving as a key contact.
Hartwig Goertler, with over 30 years of professional experience in growth, turnaround, and restructuring, is not only passionate about promoting biodiversity but also brings a unique leadership style shaped by his experiences as an officer in the parachute regiment and as a high-performance athlete. His approach is characterised by holistic situation assessment, objective weighing of possibilities, clear communication, and immediate implementation - qualities that are invaluable in crisis situations.
Interim management offers immediate access to experienced leadership, providing medium-sized companies with objective, unbiased perspectives unaffected by internal politics or legacy issues. This enables quick and accurate diagnosis of problems and timely implementation of strategic actions to stabilise the organisation and maintain momentum during crises.
Moreover, interim executives specialise in crisis management and restructuring, helping businesses reduce the time needed to implement turnaround initiatives, manage communications with stakeholders, and lead restructuring processes if necessary. Their presence mitigates the negative effects of sudden executive departures or leadership gaps that can shake investor confidence and disrupt operations.
Flexibility and cost efficiency are other significant benefits of interim management. Businesses can engage interim managers for precisely the period needed without long-term financial commitments, making it a scalable and cost-effective solution during urgent or transitional phases.
In addition, interim managers ensure ongoing projects and initiatives continue without interruption, preventing loss of momentum and helping the company stay aligned with its long-term strategic goals. This continuity is essential for medium-sized companies to navigate uncertainties without derailing important business objectives.
Furthermore, an interim leader can provide reassurance and strong communication during uncertain times, fostering workforce confidence and productivity when stability is most needed. They also facilitate smooth leadership transitions, preparing the company for permanent hires by managing the transition smoothly, reducing disruption, and allowing deliberate searches for permanent executives without rushing decisions or causing stagnation.
In conclusion, interim management offers medium-sized companies a fast, flexible, expert-driven solution to maintain stability, drive turnaround, and manage leadership transitions effectively during crises. Their objective, experienced, and focused approach helps safeguard company performance, stakeholder confidence, and employee morale in challenging times.
[1] Interim Management Association, "The Benefits of Interim Management," accessed March 27, 2023, https://www.interim-management.org/the-benefits-of-interim-management. [2] McKinsey & Company, "The role of interim management in times of crisis," accessed March 27, 2023, https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/the-role-of-interim-management-in-times-of-crisis. [3] PwC, "Interim management: A flexible solution for uncertain times," accessed March 27, 2023, https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/services/advisory/crisis-services/interim-management.html. [4] Deloitte, "Interim management: A strategic solution for business transformation," accessed March 27, 2023, https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/de/Documents/Consulting/deloitte-interim-management-ein-strategisches-loesungskonzept-fuer-business-transformation.pdf.
- In times of financial distress and leadership challenges, medium-sized enterprises can benefit from the expertise of interim managers, such as Hartwig Goertler, who specialize in crisis management and restructuring.
- Leveraging interim management not only offers immediate access to experienced leadership but also provides flexibility, cost efficiency, and continuity, ensuring the business stays aligned with its strategic goals during times of uncertainty.
