Consultants: How To Choose, Use, And Not Abuse Them
Since my first consulting project almost thirty years ago, I have learned a lot about how to successfully manage consulting projects and the client/consultant relationship.Here are some ideas that may help you with your consultants (and your lawyers, accountants and other professionals):1. Before you introduce consultants to the process, be sure you need what you want and want what you need. Beware of consultants that agree to do whatever you want, whether you need it or not.2. Look internally to confirm the three "C's" of consulting project readiness: Capacity in budget, time and resources; Commitment of management and staff affected by the process; and Capability to support the project and implement the conclusions.3. One more "C" – Compatibility. Select your consultants from an organisation that is compatible with yours - are you a corporate multinational or a local entrepreneurial business?4. Recognize whether your consulting needs are strategic - requiring outside expertise to inspire and facilitate your business planning process; or operational - bringing knowledge, skills and experience that are not available internally.5. Meet the operating consultant. It may not be the same charming, talented person that sold you the work. And at those fee rates you don't want to train a recent MBA, who started last week and studied your industry yesterday.6. Test – whether the consultant arrives with questions, not answers; will operate as neither boss nor employee; and will win the hearts and minds of your staff. Successful consultants will listen, understand, empathize, analyze, strategize, and persuade better than normal people.7. Remember you are hiring a consultant to challenge and push you. You are not renting a friend to remind you how smart you are.8. Can you confidently expect a solution that will