WORKSHIFTER - Dispatches from the New Executive Frontier

More and more companies are recognizing that mission-critical situations require top-notch executive talent -- not necessarily for the long term -- but focusing on those few strategic projects that are keeping the CEO up at night. All too often they represent discrete time periods too short to consider permanent hire with long cycles. By the time the perfect candidate is found, vetted, closed, on-boarded and trained, in many cases half or more of the assignment time has elapsed. So the ability of interim execs to hit the ground running and take immediate action is key. Example projects include launching a new product or service, opening branch offices, guiding start-up units through initial hurdles or ensuring operational integrity and business continuity through transitions such as mergers, acquisitions or successions.

What will it take for your average corporation, accustomed to entrusting strategic work only to full-time executives, to consider the new way? Undoubtedly for organizations it will require a major mind-shift. But given the rising demand for executive talent and the demographic trends that are taking hold, the companies that succeed will be the ones that move aggressively to engage highly-experienced, senior executives who no longer want the limitations of full-time employment.