Considering Engaging a Consultant?

"Richard Mille’s success is founded upon three crucial elements: the best in technical innovation, the best of artistry and architecture, the best of the heritage and culture of fine watchmaking with hand finishing." Tennis star Rafael Nadal wears the $690,000 RM 27-01, the world's lightest tourbillion watch at 19 grams (my Timex is 44 grams).


"A consultant is someone who borrows your watch and tells you the time." 
Advertising executive Carl Ally (1924-1999)

This is a frequently heard joke about consultants, but like many jokes it is actually a half truth. A good consultant works with you and your team to facilitate the achievement of your goals and desired outcomes. 

Consultants (should) bring outside expertise and a breadth of experience, a fresh perspective and insights, honesty and independence, creativity, questions and challenges, as well as a toolbox of processes and methodologies to the project at hand. (If they don't, you may have the wrong person.) What they cannot bring includes a full understanding of the company mission, goals, culture, politics, capabilities, decision-making processes and risk tolerance. These can only come from the company's leaders, managers and employees (i.e. senior management, the project team and affected/involved employees.) 

Thus a strong consulting engagement is a partnership or team effort in which the skills, knowledge and wisdom of everyone is leveraged to its maximum. Effective communication is hence critical in defining, developing and delivering the project.

Consultants will work as hard as you and your team to facilitate and contribute to successful outcomes, as this is how they build and maintain their reputation as well as ensure strong referrals - the two cornerstones of their marketing efforts.

For an independent take on consultants:
"To Consult or Not to Consult?" by Walter Lim of Cooler Insights 18/Dec/2012
"Why use a Consultant" by Small Business Development Associates (SBDA)