Tactical support for business improvement programmes and projects in Scotland:
Hello and welcome to Strathfleet Management Services,
"Flat structures and 'lean management' can bring many benefits, but flexibility isn't necessarily one of them. They can make life rather difficult, especially when work-loads increase suddenly or priorities change overnight. "Nobody mentions that there won't be anyone left to manage new initiatives and to implement change - or that you will have to choose between overloading your team or overloading yourself when unexpected 'must-do' programmes and projects appear out of nowhere." |
Do you feel that you or your team are increasingly diverted from what you do best - running your core business and securing core results?- Then you are not alone. The good news is... it doesn't have to be that way. There are other options open to you...
Let me introduce myself...
My name is Scott Henderson and I've been helping senior colleagues to get stuff out of the 'too difficult' pile for the past 15 years. I've been managing programmes and projects for around 20 years.
After 10 years of productivity, efficiency and organisational improvement initiates in the Private Sector, I turned freelance, providing my straightforward programme and project management expertise to colleagues in The Scottish Government. Then, four years ago, I founded Strathfleet Management Services as a means to working with a wider range of Management Teams.
I like nothing better than getting my sleeves rolled-up and working with my clients to sort out what needs to be done, working out how to get it done and then, if required, leading the charge...
Anyway, here are those options I mentioned....
OPTION 1 - You could hire an additional senior manager. This will get you the "know what" and the "know-how" you need. However, this can end up being a long-term solution to what turns out to be a short-term problem. They can also be a bit slow to recruit and expensive to implement too when you consider notice periods, search fees and termination payments (if it did turn out to be a short-term need after all).
OPTION 2 - You could hire a management consultant. They exist to provide support on a project-by-project basis. However, their support does tend to be of the "audit and recommend" variety rather than the "get it done" variety. They are generally a lot more expensive than hiring a senior manager.
OPTION 3 - Hire an Interim Manager (someone like me!). They too exist to provide support on a project-by-project basis, but with some important differences:
- | Interim Managers have those valuable consultancy skills but they are primarily do-ers who will take responsibility for completing specific pieces of work or, if required, leading and managing programme and project implementation. |
- | They are cost effective too, often with rates significantly lower than those of 'big brand' management consultants. |
- | Unlike permanent managers, interims are fast to recruit and they quickly orient themselves - your project or programme has a faster start. |
- | They are also free from career and "political" distractions - they just focus on getting the job done... and then they leave. |
You can find some more general information about Interim Management in an article in our 'Tools' section or by clicking on this link: A Quick Guide to Interim Management (opens in another window).
The rest of this site is about providing information, advice and tools for those who need to get stuff done - with or without an Interim Programme and Project Manager. Some of the content is about our services and some of it is more general. All of it is intended to be helpful.
The site is a work in progress and if there is something you would like to see on these pages please feel free to drop me a line at:
Scott.Henderson@Strathfleet.com.
Alternative contact details are at the bottom of the page if you prefer.
Your feedback will be received gratefully.
With warm regards,
Scott Henderson.
Programme and Project Manager
P.S.
Oh, there is another option...
OPTION 4 - You could struggle on just as you are.
If you have already decided that "doing nothing" isn't a real or sustainable option for you and you would like more information, please visit our Tactical Support Services page. For an informal chat over coffee about some options that might make sense for you - then please call or email me on the details below, or submit a contact request via our 'Contact Us' page.