There are a lot of myths and misnomers about consultants. Consultants are only used by large corporations, you only need a consultant when you are in “real” trouble, consultants only tell you what you are doing wrong, consultants are expensive, etc.
Although some of these myths may be based in reality for some organizations that is not the case for all consultants or organizations. Business of any size can benefit from the help of a consultant on a full time or as-needed basis. Below are just a few ways that a consultant can help your business whether you are a Mom-and-Pop local retailer or a Global organization.
At their core, consultants are hired to do one thing, and one thing only, SOLVE PROBLEMS. Problems don’t have to be be bad and they don’t have to be threatening your business or indicate that you have done anything wrong. These problems that need solving could be something good such as your business is growing exponentially faster than you expected and you have more work than you can handle. Or maybe your local product has garnered National attention and you now need to hire and collaborate with sale staff around the country. Either way there is still a problem, situation, issue, opportunity, or initiative that you need help in finding the best solution for.
So now that we know what consultants do at a core level, lets look at some advantages to hiring those consultants to help.
Outside Looking In
We have all had those situations with family, friends, or colleagues where we can see the answer to a situation quicker and easier than they can because we are on the outside of the situation looking in. We have a fresh view of the situation and are therefore able to see creative and sometimes obvious solutions quicker and easier than the individuals that have been staring at the same problem day after day. Consultants are the same way. They bring a fresh, outside view point to your organization. This doesn’t mean you and your organization necessarily have to implement any proposed solutions, but it does give you a new perspective on whatever you are looking at.
In addition to this fresh view, consultants also bring the knowledge and experience from all the other organizations and clients they have worked with. You gain the insight and experience of countless others on how similar situations or pitfalls handled and what to watch out for that your organization may not have experience yet. You also gain insight into what worked well and learn about opportunities or strategies that helped other succeed.
Accelerated Knowledge
A new project or opportunity often requires that you and your staff brush up on previous skills or learn completely new skills, technology, or products. It can often take quite a bit of time to get proficient in these new skills and learning as you go can often times be a formula for frustration. By utilizing a consultant you get immediate access to the skills and knowledge that are required to solve the problem or get your initiative underway quicker. And if you pay attention you can bring your own skill level up quicker by learning the tips and tricks of what really works or how to use that new product as it directly relates to your organization without having to wade through all the extraneous “stuff” that doesn’t apply. This is especially true for new technology. Consultants that are specialized in a specific technology have completed the install, setup, and troubleshooting on numerous occasions and can ensure that you get up and running the right way, faster.
Heavy Lifting
Project, installs and large initiatives can often tax your employees due to the increased workload that comes with such situations. This is an ideal time to bring in some outside help. Going back to the core reason consultants exist, to solve problems, providing an few extra sets of hands to assist with the work load could be one of the problems you need solved. These extra sets of hands allow your employees to stay focused on their primary job functions, while the consultant handles the heavy lifting of the initial implementation, setup, or analysis of the situation. Once the situation is under control it can be handed off to your employees to manage and the consultant’s time ends or you can retain the consultants to provide ongoing management and oversight of the project or solution that has been implemented. The extra help provided can greatly decrease the time required to take a project from the initial stages to completion.
Bang for Your Buck
Often times consultants are viewed as an expensive proposition, but they don’t have to be. There are several factors that might make hiring a consultant a better investment for your organization than the alternatives. Going back to the heavy lifting section above. If your organization only needs temporary help from someone with the knowledge and skills required to solve a specific problem and then your team is well equipped to handle the ongoing work then it can often make more financial sense to hire a consultant temporarily to get the job done quicker than it does to try and get the work done in house and paying over-time, letting other work slip through the cracks, and having the process drag on while everyone gets up to speed.
In a more permanent situation it can often be more cost effective to retain your consultants for a limited amount of time or a regular basis to manage and maintain a project than it is to hire additional employees for a job that does not require full time attention. Not to mention the extra expense of training those individuals, benefits, etc. and the risk of those individuals leaving your team after you have invested so much time and expense into getting them to the level you need. Back to the accelerated knowledge, you also continue to get that insight and learning from all the other organizations the consultant deals with at no extra charge.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Consultants and consulting companies come in all forms. From the likes of the “Big 4” like PWC, Deloitte, KPMG, and EY that cover the gambit of focus areas and operate on “billable hours” to smaller “boutique” firms that specialize in one or two core knowledge areas and are more willing to tailor an arrangement and billing plan to fit your organization’s or project’s needs. Working with boutique firms usually means that your organization works with the same consultant time and time again, allowing you to build the trust mutual respect that allow your organization to succeed.
Having a consultant on your side that cares about you and the success of your organization as much as you do can be key to allowing your business, regardless of it’s size to move above and beyond whatever problems you are facing, whether they be good or bad problems.