The Benefits of Hiring the Right Interim Manager for Your Construction Site

Summary: Interim managers can play an integral role in the success of a construction project. The intricacies of the project can be a burden to the owner and every party involved, but handling it in a seamless manner should be something the specialist should be able to take care of.

A short-term interim manager employed by either one of the many construction consulting services or through his or her own business can play an integral role in a job site. The immediate role that he or she plays is to come in an immediately impact a project, whether it’s by changing certain procedures that are being followed or even monitoring each team. Whatever the case may be, these specialists can be impactful and are ultimately worth the investment.

Deciding Who is the Right Fit

Rather than hiring the first candidate that you see, it is crucial to conduct a thorough interview process that covers your project’s needs. Every project will likely have numerous candidates from all types of interim short-term management services, but making a sound judgement call on the right individual can drastically change the outcome of the project.

Asking your basic questions about background, experience, and expectations may provide an indicator on who would fit best. However, you may want to include other questions that cover other areas as well like how the individual would change the current situation if he or she was currently in the role. Not only should you bounce ideas back and forth, but it’s also important to get a good feel of the specialist so he or she can integrate well.

Communicative and Orderly

Without direct and adequate communication between yourself and the interim manager, the project could end up being a disaster. It is necessary that the prospect on board has the ability to communicate clearly and concisely with every member of your team.

It may not be one of the most underrated aspects of looking for a short term manager, but it remains one of the most important. Keep in mind, the success of your project may hinge on the impact that the specialist can bring. Therefore, it is crucial that the both of you share mutual interests and perspectives.

Often, managers and owners will refuse to get along due to a conflict of interests. This can pose a major threat to any project, but the blame shouldn’t be placed solely on the manager. At times, the owner may be stubborn and want to pursue the project in one way, while failing to see the repercussions.

An interim manager that is experienced, like Lyle Charles from Lyle Charles Consulting, will often relay ideas that cover all aspects of the project itself, rather than going along with everything that the owner wants. The ideology behind bringing in someone new is obtaining a fresh perspective and seeing new avenues that can be taken, without sacrificing a multitude of necessities like finances for example. There needs to be clear boundaries that this specialist must follow to ensure that every party is on the same page.