An interim’s top priority, being clear about your value proposition - David Estyn-Jones

This podcast talks about a top priority for every interim.  Are you clear what your distinct value proposition is, your professional product is, what you can do for a client?  It’s what you do really well and there are people out there who need it.  You know it, recruiters know it and clients hear about it too.  That’s your superpower and it’s the way to find work as an interim.

I am very pleased to be in conversation with David Estyn-Jones.  David is a very experienced Interim, he leads Transformations and Change programme.  His key strengths are keeping things simple, focusing on the right things and building collaboration.

Summary.

·       Journey into Interim. David shares his journey into interim work, highlighting how his project and mission-focused background (including 10 years as an army officer) made it a natural fit. He emphasizes the appeal of variety, adventure, and the thrill of the unknown, noting that experience actually enhances an interim's employability.

·       Lessons learned: David reflects on what he wishes he knew earlier, including the importance of organising your limited company, defining your value proposition, clearly articulating what problems you solve and why you are special, rather than chasing any available work.

·       Continuous professional development: Actively pursuing learning and development, as it's easy for this to fall by the wayside in an interim career.  While interim roles offer inherent learning through exposure to new sectors and ways of working, David stresses the importance of continuous development. He highlights how the interim life pushes professionals to constantly evolve, contrasting it with a potential stagnation seen in permanent roles. 

·       Finding assignments and building your brand: David explains that work comes from a mix of recruiters and networking.  He advises be visible, maintain an active presence on LinkedIn, clearly define your "product" – what you do, the problems you solve, and what makes you unique.  Cultivate Relationships with recruiters and ensure your network understands your value.

·       The Interim Temperament: David emphasises that successful interims are comfortable with uncertainty, embracing the unknown and adapting to diverse work environments.  They are capable of selling themselves and actively seeking new opportunities.  And they know when an assignment is complete and are willing to inform the client, even if it means moving on to an unknown next step. This integrity is part of the premium interims charge.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Interim.  Our purpose is to give you thoughts, feed your curiosity, and energise you for professional success.  Go well.