When Interacoustics was in urgent need of a project manager with experience in technical product development, Kennet Hansen, R&D Director, contacted Homatic, who matched the project with Lars Dokkedahl.

Interacoustics specializes in the development of audiology and balance products – including a unique chair for diagnosing and treating otitis disease (BPPV).

“My job is to lead a team of engineers who will redesign the chair. Today, it takes over a week to assemble the chair. We work with a design where we are down to one day to assemble it. It will provide a huge gain on the bottom line.”

This is according to Lars Dokkedahl, who is a trained low-voltage engineer with a Six Sigma Green Belt and Price 2 project manager superstructure.

Lars Dokkedahl has an entrepreneurial gene and has previously developed special machines under his own auspices from idea to patented solution. Now it is redesign, validation and project management that are on his desk, and here it is about getting a team to run in the same direction, says Lars Dokkedahl:

“It is very rewarding to help connect technology with people, and get them to work together and in that way use the best skills of the individual to achieve a higher goal.”

He describes himself as an open, listening and determined leader. An approach that Kennet Hansen, R&D Director at Interacoustics, greatly appreciates:

“Lars has quickly settled well into the team. He doesn’t come with an “I’m a consultant, so I know best” attitude. He has a humble approach and everyone respects that because it’s a complex area we work with. It always wins.”

Freelance life requires a certain personality

For Kennet Hansen, it is important that the company’s consultants are part of the organization as an internal and are an integral part of the staff. Therefore, he sets up a framework where the consultant has the opportunity to quickly get into things. For Lars Dokkedahl, this meant the opportunity for close sparring with another project team and several introductory meetings.

Lars Dokkedahl is pleased with the strong network that he builds through his project assignments. He is often asked if he would be interested in a permanent position, which sometimes tempts him, but the desire and desire to be his own fortune maker is still too great:

“As a consultant, you avoid the human frills that can exist in an organization. I have an expectation that when you come as an external consultant, you say the things that don’t work in a really nice and accommodating way, but which may be necessary for the company to get a boost. Whereas as a permanent employee, you may feel insecure about saying those things because you have a career path that you also have to secure.”

Lars Dokkedahl believes that it takes a certain personality to thrive in the freelance life, and for him it has become a lifestyle:

“You must be ready for change and driven by constantly wanting to make the world better and yourself sharper. Just like in the sports world, you have to be able to perform better all the time.”