Media
Small Business Sector - NZ Herald Column
The
following is an article on part time management, which was published in
Sarah Trotman's small business sector weekly Friday column, in the New
Zealand Herald, in July 2005 and September 2007
Question ?
Question ?
My business is growing and I am in need of a broader range of management skills and experience than currently exists within the company. I have a real need but it doesn't require, nor can we justify a full time dedicated person. I don't want to use consultants, what can I do?
Sarah Trotman small business sector specialist put this question to David Swaffield from management 4 hire
There are many businesses of all sizes facing this issue, as businesses evolve they require a broader skill and experience base to enable them to maximize their internal efficiencies, market share and profitability.
Many businesses have a real need, but unfortunately in most cases their requirements can't support a full time role. In many cases the only option is for key staff to take on extra responsibilities in an unfamiliar area, which usually does two things,
1. Doesn't adequately address the real issues and can lead to costly mistakes, and in fact be detrimental to the area of your business that you were trying to improve.
2. The key staff member assigned this extra responsibility, probably already has enough responsibility and workload performing their own role. To have this extra workload in an unfamiliar area, will only put additional pressure on them, which will cause performance issues in their original role.
So what started out as being a reasonable solution, doesn't fix your original need and in fact could have made it worse, plus you‘ve put unnecessary pressure on a well performing team member and area.
What is the solution? What about using part time managers, yes part time managers.
For as long as businesses have been around, we have used part time staff to fill areas of real need, that don't justify full time roles, but require specific skills and experience, accounts, administration, customer service, warehouse staff, retail assistants, etc. The list goes on and covers most areas, but rarely do we see this well proven method used for management, or senior roles within businesses.
There are many people and companies that provide executive leasing and contracting services to businesses who require additional expertise. Traditionally this has been on a fixed term contract basis to carry out specific projects, or roles. We are now seeing a subtle shift away from just specific projects, and straight fixed term contracts. To more flexible arrangements being made, to enable companies to have extra expertise and management support available long term.
I am not talking about consultants, who baffle you with theory; I am talking about practical hands on managers, with a broad range of skills and proven experience. Managers, who can come into your business and work with you and your team to develop, implement and maintain solutions to improve your business.
Their involvement can be designed to fit your requirements and can range from general business advise and mentoring, to taking responsibility for a specific project, or take an active role in the business as a part time manager.
For example, You may have a manufacturing based business and sales could be increased if you had a good sales manager, but the business is not in a position to sustain the role, and your expertise is in product development and manufacturing. Bring in a part time manager, who can focus on developing your sales and improving your market share, leaving you and the rest of your team to focus on your areas of expertise.
The same applies if your expertise is sales and you need support in operations, logistics, supply chain management, finance and accounting, compliance, HR and IT. Any of the main business disciplines you require support, give some serious thought to bringing in a part time manager to work with you and your team to improve your business.
These managers can work in with you to meet your requirements, which may be a few hours, or a few days a week. Because they are practical hands on mangers with a broad range of skills and proven experience, they will work easily with you and you're team, and most importantly become part of your team and share your passion for the success of your business and add real value to your business.
There are managers available, who for many reasons this type of work arrangement suites their life style. They can be found through contacting one of the specialist contracting companies, or through your own business and community network.
For more information on part time managers, please contact David Swaffield from management 4 hire, ph 021 763 531, e-mail david@management4hire.co.nz www.management4hire.co.nz
