COOL JOBS IN AMERICA

Of course there’s a price to pay for good service. Some companies are fortunate enough to find the right profile consultant the first time; others, however, go through a hit-and-miss process until they find the most suitable one.

Looking for a Needle in a Haystack.

1. Just as there are an infinite number of bottled water brands on your supermarket shelf, there are as many business consultants in the market today. Most companies prefer to hire a consultant who comes highly recommended. Word of mouth is probably still the most common way of finding one.
2. Logically, you’ll want a consultant who is familiar with your industry and who has an impressive list of companies that he has worked with. We’ll venture to say that if it’s specific changes you’re implementing, you may want to consider a consultant who is knowledgeable about change management – not only with the concept and principles but also with the several tools used by the gurus. Before exploring what you should be looking for, we’ll tackle those situations you do not NOT want to be in:

• trainees do not take the consultant seriously because he has not convinced them of his abilities. This attitude can be attributed to the consultant’s rusty communication skills. You want someone who can communicate, not just talk. • your instincts tell you there’s a delta in the price to product ratio. You’ve paid 50% down for the consultant’s services. You’re now in week 2 and you see no progress.

• “now you see him, now you don’t” – it’s no wonder he’s been labeled a consultant “on high demand.” It is unprofessional and unethical for a consultant who works solo to accept multiple assignments. A consultancy firm should assign a specific number of people to your company exclusively and this should be stipulated in the contract. A consultant who is running off in different directions defeats the change process mission.

• lack of materials – if a consultant does not produce and distribute materials - handouts, videos, manuals and worksheets - how will he provide adequate training and guidance?