Change of line manager: 5 qualities of the relay manager

Within a company, changes in line managers often come with many challenges. Poorly supported, they can be the cause of many internal upheavals and lead to a drop in operational performance and team commitment.

To ensure a serene and smooth start to the job, the relay manager is an ally of choice. Let’s take a closer look at the advantages of this outsourcing solution and the 5 essential qualities of the relay manager to support a change of line manager.

 

What is relay management?

Relay management consists of calling on a professional from outside the company to replace, on a temporary basis, a top manager or a senior executive, such as a CIO, an HR Director or a Sales Director who is absent (following sick leave, parental leave, resignation, dismissal, retirement, transfer, etc.).

The relay manager will thus take over the reins of the service until the absent employee returns, or until a new talent is recruited. He will thus ensure the continuity of operations. His intervention can extend from 6 to 18 months, depending on the needs of the company.

 

Change of line manager: why call on the relay manager?

The role of the relay manager is not only to ensure the continuity of the activity, but also to prepare the handover with the future manager and to facilitate his integration. As a third party, it also plays a key role in change management, to help employees adapt to the new organizational dynamic.

Calling on a relay manager before a change of line manager thus allows:

• To fill the vacancy of the position until the arrival of the new manager;
• Ensuring operational continuity until the recruitment of the new manager;
• To support teams in change;
• Optimize processes and practices thanks to the external view of an experienced professional;
• To ensure a serene start and immediate operational efficiency of the new manager;
• To establish a climate of trust conducive to a successful transition;
• …

 

5 essential qualities of a relay manager

To ensure the success of a relay management mission, the interim manager must imperatively possess a certain number of technical skills, but also several essential human and managerial qualities, including:

• Adaptability

The relay manager must succeed in adapting, in a very short time, to a new structure, to new employees, practices, methods, work tools, etc.

To do this, a high degree of adaptability is therefore essential. He must be able to Immediately understand the internal dynamics, individual and collective ways of operating, and corporate culture. This is essential to enable the Superintendent to be operational immediately and to fill the vacancy. This adaptability also allows him to support the arrival of the new manager and to lay the foundations for a healthy and harmonious transition.

• A sense of leadership

Like any interim manager, the relay manager must imperatively have a sharp natural sense of leadership. He or she must be able to mobilize and motivate employees in delicate transition contexts, build mutual trust and Demonstrate natural authority. Leadership is also a key quality for making strategic decisions and uniting employees around a common vision that is inspiring and engaging.

• Emotional Intelligence

The relay manager must also demonstrate great emotional and relational intelligence, but also active listening, humility and empathy. This is essential to enable it to spot weak signals, create a climate of trust and meet the human challenges inherent in any organizational change.

• Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate are other essential assets in relay management. The interim manager must be able to Demonstrate clear and transparent communication throughout his speech. This is essential to promote the acceptance of change, avoid misunderstandings and support the new line manager’s arrival in office effectively.

• Stress Management

The relay manager must not only carry out daily missions, but he or she is also often called upon to deal with delicate situations : emergencies, crises, conflicts… He must be able to handle them confidently and calmly and be able to make quick and strategic decisions under pressure. To do this, composure and excellent stress management skills are essential.

 

Are you looking for an experienced relay manager to support a change of line manager?

Our interim management company WAYDEN identifies and mobilizes for you a qualified relay manager, specialized in your sector of activity and capable of intervening as quickly as possible.

 

Contact us to find out more.