Choosing a consultant

Let's assume you have made the decision to hire a consultant. As there are so many management consultants to choose from, what are some things you may want to consider?

1. Firstly, be very clear about what you want the consultant to do and what are the expected outcomes from their involvement. Then, ensure that the consultant has the required skills mix and experience to deliver.
2. The consultant needs a proven track record and at least 10 years senior experience in their area/s of expertise prior to becoming a consultant. It is only with this background that they will appreciate what you are experiencing and be able to work with you to develop solutions.
3. Make sure you know who the consultant/s will be before signing a contract. Often consultancy firms will send in their most senior people during the negotiation stages but then you may rarely see them again as they send in junior consultants to do the actual work.
4. Check with organisations that have used them before to find out whether they delivered value for money.
5. Ensure they are people who are good listeners and will not come in with all the 'answers'. 
6. Some consultants will have a strict 'recipe-like' approach and not be flexible with their approach and strategies. Flexibility is essential as text book style answers rarely work in practice with each organisation and situation being unique.
7. Be careful of employing consultants who just agree with you and rehash your ideas - you want someone who is a critical thinker willing to challenge and help you develop new ideas and approaches.
8. Finally, you want someone who has your organisation's best interests as their first priority - someone with integrity that will give themselves wholeheartedly to the success of your organisation.