Interim Executives: Why Now?

by Cerius Team

We are in the longest and most far-reaching business downturn since the Great Depression, with no clear end in sight. Layoffs abound. Production is sinking. Revenues and profit margins are down. All aspects of the global supply chain are affected. What can you do right now to ensure that your organization weathers the storm?

Are You Flexible Enough to Survive?

Managing through a rough economy is paramount - you cannot afford to make a mistake now. Maintaining flexibility is one key factor: you may need to turn on a dime in both your day-to-day tactics or your longer term business strategy. But the ability to agilely navigate through the downturn successfully may not be part of the skill set of your executive team, right when the timing of each move is so important. Don't flounder alone; it's too risky. To understand more about major risk factors, see Risky Business: Five Big Risks that Can Kill Your Business. Consider the value of an interim executive who can provide on-demand leadership based on successful experience - explicitly providing your organization the flexibility to move strategically.

Can You Drive Business Momentum Throughout the Downturn?

Despite the economy, business needs to continue. Products need to be built, items shipped, services delivered, sales expectations met. The cost-cutting of late 2008, often involving staff reduction, however, may have impacted your ability to meet the quality and quantity expectations of your customers. While trying to do more with less, and in the face of fewer employees, deploying an interim executive to manage financial, marketing, R&D, professional services, human capital management or any one of the many aspects of your business ensures that work will continue without the need for long-term investment in expensive personnel.

Do Your Business Processes Leave You Vulnerable?

Business uncertainty may well exacerbate processes that were suboptimal in good times, but prove to be open wounds in a recession. There may be operational gaps, inefficient or redundant processes, over-reliance on manual procedures or out dated technology - all of which seriously impact your business performance. Bringing in an expert temporarily to address these issues before them worsen or severely affect your ability to execute your business plan successfully can prove a life saver. We can free up cash trapped in inefficient operations, isolate operational breakpoints, align and streamline organizational processes, and increase efficiency in your global supply chain.

Do You Suffer from Leadership Paralysis?

You may be in the position of "leading during lay-offs." It is hard to balance the requirement to maximize productivity, run a lean, tight ship, and maintain the high morale that defines a productive workforce. Key business initiatives get postponed because the executive team - perhaps for the first time - lacks a framework for decision making in a deep recession. Now you don't need to lead alone. With a Cerius Interim Executive you can accomplish your revenue goals while cutting operational costs, and rely on the experience of the "leader on-demand" to provide the motivation and skills ensure the best results from your workforce.

Bridge the Chasm with the Best

To bridge the downturn chasm, you can rely on the expertise and experience of a Cerius Executive, whether for a short- or long-term deployment, or whether on a full- or-part-time basis. The cost advantages of an interim rather than a full time employee are published elsewhere (see "Top 8 Reasons Why Leadership On-Demand Makes Economic Sense Today"); those reasons apply even more in the conditions of extreme cost control we face today. The recession will end they all do. But you cannot wait until the end of a downturn to address the business issues that are impacting your success today.

For more information, see Interim Sales Leadership: Increase Revenue Results-Right Now with Cerius "On-Demand" Executives or read our white paper "Gaining a Competitive Edge Through Interim Executive Management".

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