We invited Interim Managers to an evening at the Nobel Museum on the subject innovation. The participants, both in and between assignments, exchanged experiences and discussed their views on innovative leadership in a growing industry.
In his opening speech, Björn Henriksson stated that the demand for successful professionals capable of running time-limited, complex projects is ever increasing:
“You are all part of engineering a new profession, and I’m struck by the collective expertise in this room.”
Problem-solving and creativity
The subject of the evening was innovation, and the Nobel Museum’s exhibition Idéer som förändrat världen (Ideas that changed the world) were presented to. The Nobel Laureates work in widely different fields, often having more aspects in common than one might think. All of them received the price because they have solved a problem – hence creativity unites them. And hard work. Another theme was the importance of honesty, and that you cannot advance if you are too attached to your own theories.
“That caught my attention during the show” says Joakim Kedbrant, one of the participants, currently working on an interim assignment as Senior Program Manager Officer in the health care sector. He tells us that it is a complicated case where several major stakeholders are involved.
“In my role, I just set the ground rules, that everyone need to follow, and to make sure everything is communicated to everyone. It is important to remain humble, especially initially you need to listen instead of telling how things should be done. Just listen.”
Executive Interim Management – An adrenaline rush
Annika Muskantor emphasizes the importance of being curious and able to listen to succeed as an Interim Manager. Right now, she has just completed a 20-month assignment as CFO at a high-tech company.
“It is a bit of fun, my dad still asks if there is not anyone who wants to hire me”, says Annika Muskantor laughing. “But there are other individuals better at holding the same position year after year. I’m driven by driving change and to create. My strength is to make things happen and I need to move forward. It is such an adrenaline rush to work like this, to constantly push myself and to gain new insights.”
“Nordic Interim is doing a solid job scrutinizing both the company and the candidates. This is important as you often need to start an assignment without a proper handover. You may, e.g., replace someone that has fallen ill and had to leave the same day,” she says.
Emerging trends in the industry
Many of the participants discussed industry trends and their views on innovative leadership. What kind of skills will be required within the next few years? The forecasts are abstract. The most obvious, and what most people seem to agree on, is that as a manager you must be prepared to adapt quickly and effectively to the occurring situation. Ossi Mörnesten is the interim CEO of an industrial service business and believes that the Interim Management industry is the future. Companies will work more and more in project forms and acquire the skills needed specifically for a certain project.
“To me, an innovative leadership means just being able to face a market that is constantly renewing itself,” says Ossi Mörnesten.