Temp Execs Mean Temp Employees…

A recent article on the Workforce Management website focused on the use of temporary executives during these tough economic times.  The article provided the opinion of three temporary executives from the LA-based Business Talent Group (BTG).  Surprise – they all thought it was good idea.  An interim CEO, HR VP and Chief Marketing Officer all discussed that having temporary executives was a good idea and being temporary provided the hiring company with better information, more truthful analysis and someone willing to do the hard work without a worry about corporate politics.

While I don't doubt that that those statements are true I don't think a company benefits from hiring mercenary executives in the long run.  Sure, in the short run their laser focus and lack of emotional connection allow them to see opportunities that employed executives might not, and be able to act on them.  But the long-term damage to the entire employee base isn't worth it.

In a time when most HR consultants are telling companies that employee engagement is key to future success – and most surveys show that engagement is at best holding it's own – hiring temporary executives seems like the most backward play I can imagine.

The Medium is the Message

Marshall McLuhan is credited with saying that the medium is the message – meaning that the way in which a message is delivered becomes part of the message, creating a connection to the message – influencing how the message is perceived by the audience.  So how does the medium of "temporary executive" connect to the message they ultimate may send to the employees?  I have some opinions…

• My senior managers have no stones.
• My senior managers don't know what they are doing.
• My senior managers don't want to work hard.
• My senior managers don't care about me.
• All employees are temporary.

While we may think that hiring temporary executives is like a footprint in wet sand, washed away with the waves of better times – it will leave a lasting impression on your employees.

What Engages your Employees

A couple of things are required in order to have engaged workers.

1. Transparent and honest communications
2. A feeling of control over their job, their function and their place in making the company a success.

Both of these key engagement drivers go out the window the day the temp executive comes in the door.  In tough times employees look to their management to help them make sense of the situation, to provide guidance and help and to reassure them that their faith in the company and those that run it is the right thing.  Hiring temporary executives breaks the relationship between the employee and the executives in charge.

A Distinction WITH a Difference

Some may argue that temporary executives are nothing more than consultants.  But there is a big difference between a "consultant" and a temporary executive.  That difference is that a consultant offers advice – nothing more.  It is still up to the existing "permanent" management to decide and act on that advice.  The decision is theirs and they have to live with the outcome.  Using temporary executives shifts the burden of decision making from the permanent leaders to the temporary execs.  Who wants to work for someone who shifts blame?

Look for Another Path

My advice to any company looking for a temporary executive is to remember, within your employee base you already have smart and experienced individuals who are more than happy to help you out.  Leverage the collective wisdom of your employee base.  Why not bring together a committee of your existing employees and make them a "temporary" executive group – give them the same challenges you'd give your temp exec and see what they come up with.  I'm confident your engagement scores will go up! 

Think about it – you've just communicated you need their help and you've given them some control over their future – two things needed in this tough business climate.

Don't use temporary executives unless you want to communicate that all employees are really "temporary."