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Thanks to those that supported my application to be Chair of the Interim Management Association, unfortunately I was unsuccessful.
I believe that the IMA need to do much to improve its image and to become relevant to both clients – the users of Interim Managers and to Interim Managers themselves. Before I was interested in becoming Chair we asked a number of clients and interim managers what they thought of the IMA. We wanted to know what its perceived proposition was. The answers from our clients were that it was largely irrelevant when it came to the decisions they took regarding which provider they used. The view from our interim managers was between neutral and negative – they were perplexed that the IMA had attempted to start an Institute and were suspicious of its aims.
Clearly there is a big task ahead of the IMA. It needs to ensure that its members sing from the same sheet and promote IM professionally. Its membership should aim to be exclusive – attracting top tier providers, (some of whom are not in the IMA) who focus only on day rates that are at a meaningful level. The membership should be clearly distinguished from high street recruitment companies who do not value the IM proposition, dumb down through lower rates or confuse temporary roles and fixed term contracts with interim management.
More importantly it needs to spell out to potential clients the benefits of using an IMA member. There needs to be far more value in being an IMA member than cheap access to the REC or a badge for a website. It needs a unified voice that champions the IMA membership within the sector.
The IMA also needs the full support of everyone in the IM community. I hope this can be achieved by re-engaging with other groups – such as The Institute of Interim Management – IoIM, through closer ties, attending each others meetings and far better communication.
I would like to wish the new Chair, Jason Atkinson, every success in his endeavors to champion our sector.
Doug Baird is Managing Director of Interim Partners.
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March 11th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Doug,
I was rather disappointed that you didn’t get the cigar as I thought you would champion the cause extremely well and, in your last blog on the subject, had really done your research and broadly concluded with my recent paper on the Nature of Interim Management Activity which was published to the APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) considering the options for IR35 (which, incidentally, I was pleased to hear over the last couple of days, is being recommended for suspension).
Jason has a significant challenge on his hands, as you have laid out above and I am keen to see progress being made after the last couple of “dull” years, including the establisment of an alternative to the IoIM which has really come of age over the last few years.
This industry needs clear leadership and differentation and this can be achieved by a stronger, more quality focused IMA supported by the IoIM (and us professional IMs that are not members of either bodies).
I hope that you will consider putting your hat into the ring at the next opportunity, and I would commend that you do.
Gary Newbury – Supply Chain Specialists Ltd