Our differentiation is in the way, integrity, and scale of the results we deliver. No better way to illustrate the point than using a client Divisional Managing Directors' words who engaged Icebreaker:
Ability to integrate into the client company
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[Icebreaker Executive] very quickly understood the culture within the business. Within [their] first week [they] produced an excellent document putting meat on the bone to his brief. [they] very quickly identified the critical areas of the project and had put together a draft plan as to how we could overcome those issues. The majority of this initial document did not change throughout [Their] assignment. The culture [Icebreaker Executive] came into was a well established manufacturing process that had not changed for many, many years. [they] was very mindful of this and spent nearly all [their] early weeks convincing the business as a whole that his way forward was the right way, having of course agreed it with me first. Once we had buy-in from the rest of the team the benefits were there for all to see.
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Working style
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Very results/task focused. The reason why I selected [Icebreaker Executive] in the first place was for this very reason. I had a specific set of tasks which had to be done within a specific timescale. I immediately took a liking to [Icebreaker Executive] when during the interview [they] challenged my proposed time table. My initial thoughts were that I would need [them] for 10 months, clearly [they] were right to challenge them at the time and delivered within 6 ½ months.
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Leadership / people management skills
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[Icebreaker Executive's] great strength is leading people and teams. [They] had to overcome a culture in the company where people were not held accountable for their actions and rarely made decisions. Through mentoring and working closely with individuals (often on a one to one basis) [They] were able, by the time [they] left, to create a team who thought for themselves and made decisions for themselves. [They] let people develop their own detailed plans under [their] guidance and only altered these when necessary.
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Impact on the business / bottom line
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The project that I brought [Icebreaker Executive] in for will increase the divisional profit annually by 10%. I honestly believe that without [Their] input at a crucial stage in the project we may well still be thinking and planning today.
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Overall contribution / achievement of objectives
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[Icebreaker Executive] had three objectives, all of which were achieved. [Their] contribution was excellent and even meant that [they] finished the assignment early - at [Their] cost.
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Any other comments about the interim manager
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I would have no problem recommending [Icebreaker Executive] for another interim post. [Their] speciality is change management and [their] expertise is being able to deliver results professionally and on time.
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Some other external feedback:
... “Your approach harks back to a period of genuine competence”
… “I despair at the claims of 'thousands of interims' on most interim management firms' registers.
.... "There are, I would have thought, at the very most 500 senior interim managers worthy of the term in the UK, so one wonders at the calibre of the firms who cannot recognise this”
