How does business-focused interim create value?

Business-focused interim isn't just about filling a role. It's about really understanding the business, reading the situation, and quickly bringing stability and progress. An interim leader with experience from similar businesses, situations, or roles can create value from day one. But it also means the client needs to be clear about what they expect from the assignment.

Here at Scandinavian Executive, a business-focused approach to interim management is key to how we do things. This means we meet clients right where they are, understand their real-world challenges, and provide practical solutions that truly work.

Our senior team members have hands-on experience from management teams and business-critical roles. Michael Gabrielsson is one of them. He helps leaders find qualified interim expertise exactly when they need it most.

With a long background in business and used to working closely with management teams, Michael knows just how crucial the right support can be. He's been on the management team at Stockholm School of Economics, IFL Executive Education, and was CEO at Mercuri International. In those roles, chatting with senior management at client companies was a big part of Michael's daily routine. This experience has given him a great understanding of the challenges and important topics that leaders face.

We asked Michael four questions about working closely with businesses, interim expertise, and how to create value fast.

– Often, it's about bringing a sense of calm. When an experienced interim consultant steps in, the urgent and stressful stuff eases up, allowing management to start making more well-thought-out decisions.

Michael shared a story about a time when an acquisition needed more qualified resources in the finance department. They solved the challenge by bringing in an overqualified interim consultant.

– Once things settled down, they were able to hire more junior talent. It proved cost-effective in the long run, and the stability during that intense period made a huge difference.

– The most important thing is having experience in similar businesses, situations, or roles. Experience brings confidence, and you can really feel that the moment someone joins a new organization.

But that's not all. Michael adds:

– Clients also need to be open about the real situation. What the core of the assignment is and what results are expected. The better we understand the current state, the better we can find the perfect consultant.

– I always do my homework before meetings, keep up with companies in the news, and try to get a feel for how the industry is doing. Connecting on LinkedIn and subscribing to industry newsletters also helps me gain a deeper understanding.

Different industries, roles, and assignments can bring their own unique challenges. But with his extensive business experience and background working closely with management, Michael can provide interim solutions that really work.

For that to happen, open communication with the client is absolutely key.

– I often hear that I'm quick to understand situations. That I keep my promises and act as an extension of the client in discussions with the consultant. I make myself available to our clients and I'm always happy to listen.

Availability, speed, and transparency. And always delivering on your promises, in other words. To wrap things up, here's a quote about Michael from one of our clients:

“You understood our situation, clearly summarized what we needed, and I really trusted you during our meeting. The placement happened quickly, and we truly got someone who understood us and our situation. Our business is now in a much better position to succeed.”

For Michael, business-focused interim work is all about this: combining experience, attentiveness, and speed to help companies move forward when they need it most.