Summer party with more than just a plan B

Deutsche Interim AG and Bayern Consult hosted a summer party - and many customers, partners and interim managers accepted the invitation to the clubhouse of the Germania rowing club on the banks of the Main in Frankfurt. The focus of the event was on personal discussions over wine and a barbecue buffet. The fact that it started to rain did not detract from the festivities - because the organizers had a plan B ready for this and more.

Garden party atmosphere until the thunderstorm required a plan B

The conditions for the summer party of Deutsche Interim AG and Bayern Consult could hardly have been better: For the champagne reception, the warm September sun shone on the large veranda of the Germania clubhouse. The best garden party atmosphere at 25 degrees Celsius. A little later, Tilo Ferrari, CEO of Deutsche Interim AG, and Markus Ziechaus, Managing Director of Bayern Consult, welcomed the 70 or so guests from companies, banks and interim management. They presented Plan B, the joint consulting and implementation concept for companies that have got into difficulties.

The weather then also got into difficulties. Leaves blew across the veranda, and half a minute later it was pouring with rain. Bad prospects for the barbecue stations on the terrace? Not at all. Because the prudent kitchen team had a plan B: in a matter of seconds, protective sun and rain umbrellas were erected to keep the grilled vegetables, fillet skewers and all the other delicacies on the barbecues dry: Buffet saved, applause from the audience.

Plan B presentation: summer party at the rowing clubhouse on the banks of the Main in Frankfurt

The Frankfurt rowing club Germania is one of the oldest and most successful rowing clubs in Germany. The club's rowers have won Olympic medals, world championship titles and national championships - the victory celebrations typically take place in the Germania clubhouse. For this reason alone, there could not have been a better location to present Plan B as a joint initiative of Deutsche Interim AG and the management consultancy Bayern Consult.

Tilo Ferrari, Christian Schneider and Markus Ziechaus are the brains behind Plan B. (©Deutsche Interim AG, Tobias Köhler)

"A powerful team is needed to provide comprehensive advice to medium-sized companies in crisis situations," says Markus Ziechaus, Managing Director of Bayern Consult. "In consulting, it has always been important to put together the necessary resources individually for the respective requirements - from classic consultants to engineers to scientists or other specialists." With this in mind, his company is always open to fresh ideas - and Plan B is exactly the right approach to optimally dovetail consulting and the implementation of the solutions found.

"The only plan can't be to go to the dentist when the pain is unbearable," adds Tilo Ferrari. "That's why plan B starts earlier. In this picture, Bayern Consult is the dentist who makes the diagnosis. And as an interim provider, Deutsche Interim AG offers exactly the right experts to treat the causes of the pain."

Summer party, rowing or business: it's the team that counts

When choosing the location for the summer party, any parallels between rowing and the business world did not play a role. However, they became apparent in the interview with Christian Wolff. The 19-year-old rows in Germania's eight and works as a youth coach at the club. His answer to the question about the most important prerequisites for success in rowing: "Strength alone is not enough. Above all, you always need a plan B on the course so that you can react to changes at any time. For example, to your opponents, waves or changing wind conditions. It's only possible to win a race when power, technique and strategy work together perfectly."

Rower Christian Wolff explained how important a plan B is. (© Peter Schönwandt)

In this context, it is interesting to note that the international auditing firm PricewaterWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) praises rowers as high performing teams, especially when it comes to overcoming crises. In an eight, for example, the stroke rate is adapted to the situation by the stroke man, while the rowers in the boat immediately implement the speed specifications.

Plan B: Reaching the finish line successfully with a strong team

The Germania team's Plan B saved the summer festival buffet. Admittedly: This is quite a bit easier than leading a company out of a crisis. Allow us to make one last allusion to rowing: from the race strategy to adjusting the number of strokes to the sprint to the finish - Plan B helps companies cross the finish line successfully.

Plan B is a new consulting and implementation concept for companies in difficulties. (©Deutsche Interim AG, Peter Schönwandt)

Do you need a plan B? Christian Schneider combines advice (Bayern Consult) and action (the interim managers). Simply call 0176-23749805 or send an e-mail to planb@deutscheinterim.com.