Hiring interims is smart in uncertain times. When Ryan Roslansky, CEO of LinkedIn, talks about the future of work, it’s worth listening. His latest book, Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI, explores the impact of AI—but the more immediate takeaway for business leaders is far simpler:

Those who succeed are those who take control, and how hiring interims during uncertain times is a great investment.

In a recent conversation with Isabel Berwick¹ of the Financial Times, Roslansky shared a powerful insight from LinkedIn’s 1.3 billion members:

“The people who are winning right now… are the ones who are taking control of their career.”

It’s a statement that perfectly describes the interim talent market—and why more business leaders think hiring interims is smart in uncertain times.

The Commercial Case for Interims

Delay now means risk.

Markets are shifting quickly, transformation agendas are accelerating, and yet hiring a permanent senior leader can take months—often too long for the challenges at hand.

Interim leaders solve that problem immediately.

They make an impact from day one.
Interims assess, decide, and act—fast. They don’t need long onboarding.

They add capability exactly when it’s needed.
Interims deliver transformation, turnaround, or fill gaps—focused on outcomes.

They increase organisational agility.
Interims let businesses scale leadership to meet demand.

Why Hiring Interims Consistently Delivers

Having interviewed thousands of interim managers over the years, one thing is clear: their effectiveness isn’t accidental.

They’ve chosen this path deliberately.
Top interims move from permanent careers to apply their expertise across many organisations, staying current and results-driven.

Interims embrace ambiguity.
Where permanent structures can struggle with uncertainty, interims thrive in it—bringing clarity, direction, and momentum.

They are accountable for outcomes.
Their work is measured, delivered, and scrutinised every 9–18 months.

A Glimpse of the Future Organisation

Roslansky also points to a broader shift: businesses moving away from rigid hierarchies and static job descriptions, towards models built around the work that actually needs to be delivered.

That future is already here and hiring interims is a smart move in uncertain times.

And interim leaders are at the centre of it.

The Bottom Line

If your organisation faces change—and most do—act now to add leadership capability.

The key question: How fast can you secure the expertise you need?

Interims help you take control of timelines, outcomes, and performance.

The most effective organisations aren’t waiting for the perfect permanent hire.
They’re bringing in the right expertise—right now. Hiring interims during uncertain times is one of the best investments your buisness will make.

Nick Diprose, founder of Holdsway, has been introducing interim leaders to organisations to help them deliver change and manage uncertainty for over 20 years.

¹Berwick, I. (2026). LinkedIn’s Ryan Roslansky: ‘No one is taking care of your career for you’. [online] @FinancialTimes. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/4aff59a7-2792-4200-8fd5-a741754eaa1d?shareType=nongift&syn-25a6b1a6=1