Interview with Anders Hedenros

For a little over six to seven years. Since August, however, I’ve been working full-time at a company where I previously held interim positions.

It was really just a coincidence. I had just finished a previous assignment with SJ and happened to run into an interim consultant who was working at Systembolaget at the time. I could have applied for a new permanent position, but I thought it would be fun to try something new.

The pandemic has really affected everything, not least the fact that we haven’t been able to be there in person. This, in turn, has meant that we’ve had to be clearer in our communication. On the other hand, everyone has been on an equal footing.

The best thing about being an interim consultant is that you’re still “your own boss” even though you’re employed by someone else. In a way, you become an independent party, but you’re there and deliver just like everyone else. If you’re sociable and proactive, you’ll also become part of the company culture. Otherwise, you might feel like an outsider.

I currently have a permanent position. The reason was that I wanted to continue working on the projects I had started. A large part of what you do as an interim consultant involves driving change, managing projects, handling organizational issues, and solving problems. That’s why I believe that, as an interim consultant, you should choose assignments lasting at least a year so that you have enough time to make a difference.

What I consider most important is maintaining close communication. It’s important to take the time to discuss the project. It’s also important for the intermediary to be transparent about what is communicated to the company and to ensure that it aligns with what can actually be delivered. In addition, it can be helpful to check in periodically to make sure everything is going as planned.