Transparency in the interim industry

Why Openness Leads to Better Interim Solutions

Interim management has become super important for companies that need the right skills quickly during times of change. By bringing in an interim consultant, organizations can get an experienced leader or specialist for a specific period.

Many assignments involve a third party – an agency that connects companies with the perfect interim consultant and plays a key role in making interim solutions work well. But this also brings up a question that's rarely openly discussed in the interim world: How transparent is the deal between the client, consultant, and agency, really?

Who Really Knows What an Interim Consultant Costs?

In a typical interim assignment, the consultant knows their fee, and the agency knows both what the client pays and what the consultant gets. But the client, who's actually footing the bill, doesn't always have full visibility into how that compensation is split up.

Why is Compensation Often Kept Secret?

In some parts of the interim industry, there are confidentiality agreements about compensation. Sometimes, consultants agree not to share their fee with the client, and clients don't always get to see how much of the assignment cost goes to the agency.

The reasoning might be to protect business models or simplify pricing. But at the same time, it makes you wonder what level of transparency is fair in an industry where collaborations are often built on trust and good relationships.

We've talked before about how transparency helps build long-term relationships. This is becoming even more crucial as the industry continues to grow.

How Can Transparency Boost Collaboration?

Transparency doesn't mean you have to spill all the beans about your business model. But having an open chat about how an interim assignment is structured can definitely lead to clearer expectations for everyone involved: the client, the consultant, and the agency.

When everyone involved understands the setup, there's less chance of misunderstandings. It also helps the interim market grow in a more sustainable way, keeping the focus on the real value an interim consultant brings to the organization.

Another key thing is how the client, consultant, and agency work together. When we approach things with transparency, attentiveness, and mutual trust, the assignment turns into something valuable for all three. You can dive deeper into this in our article, Interim is a team effort.

What Role Will Transparency Play in the Future of Interim Management?

Interim management keeps growing as a work style and a strategic tool for companies going through changes. As the interim industry matures, things like transparency, business ethics, and clear collaborations are becoming more and more important.

Here at Scandinavian Executive, transparency is super important in how we handle interim solutions. We really believe that being open with both our clients and interim consultants leads to stronger partnerships and better outcomes for every project.

Ultimately, transparency isn't just about how we price things; it's really about trust. And in an industry that relies so much on trust, that's one of the most crucial foundations.