How does it work in practice?

Unlike employing a full time member of staff there is no honeymoon period. When a business employs an interim manager it is not employing potential, rather a specific skill required to solve a specific business issue. There tends to be a very short settling in time before the interim manager is expected to be effective. Conversely, interim managers are not expected to embrace the company culture, values or politics and when the job finishes and the interim leaves, so does the cost – the business is not left finding something for that employee to do.