How to Know When You Need a Consultant

Fresh perspectives, process efficiencies, and strategic planning are just three of the many benefits working with a consultant can provide your business.

Articles published September 10, 2019 by Holly Veeder

Whether your business is looking to take on a long-term project, wants to plan for the future, needs to tighten security, or needs extra hands on deck, a business consultant can be a valuable solution. Expanding your team with outside expertise not only helps to identify new opportunities for improvement and growth, but also offers insight for implementation.

Why Hire a Consultant?

Consultants have focused expertise in project management, IT, business management, development, and much more that may not currently exist in your office. Often, consultants may bring knowledge on new market trends, cutting-edge technology, and emerging sales strategies that have been tested through their previous work. Strengthening your team with the technical expertise that comes when you hire a consultant allows current team members a chance to focus on creative execution and to think long-term, keeping goals aligned.

Beyond expertise, companies hire consultants to supplement staffing needs, saving money on hiring a full-time employee. Hiring a consultant to work a specific project or business need on a short-term contract allows you to pay per project and save money between projects. Consultants also do not require the same benefits as your full-time employees, saving you additional expense.

What Consultants Do

Consultants are experts in their field who bring their experience to your organization to help meet the needs of a project, often resulting in enhanced organizational efficiency. An outside consultant often offers much-needed objectivity, a fresh perspective, and business intelligence that help move projects and goals along. Keeping your employees on track and helping them overcome hurdles along the way, a consultant brings solutions those inside your organization may be too close to see.

Project management consultants, for example, have an eye for process improvement and can quickly streamline workflows, saving you time and money. Whether it’s business analysis, workflow analysis, or systems analysis, consultants will work closely with your organization to improve functionality and processes. Consultants have your business’s best interests at heart, and their success depends on your success. Simply put, consultants deliver the strategies and tactics needed to make your business life easier.

When and How to Hire a Consultant

Before you hire a consultant, do some strategic planning. Fully identify the problems you need them to solve and how you plan to measure the consultant’s success. This plan should also outline why you need to hire a consultant and if multiple consultants might be beneficial.

Once you’ve established your goals, do your due diligence to identify which consulting service will fit your needs. Hire a consultant early enough in the project so that they can provide valuable input and direction without needing to make costly changes.

Once hired, establish a clear relationship and take the time to lay the groundwork and ensure the consultant has all the background information, goals and deliverables needed for success. From there, you’ll want to set a process for communication, including project updates and how to handle any hurdles. Then, stay engaged and use the consultant as a trusted resource for your business. Remember, you’ve hired a business consultant for their expertise and market knowledge. With proper communication and follow through, the decision to hire a consultant may be the best one you make for your business.

Count on Aureon Consulting

If your organization could benefit from the experience and fresh perspective of a consultant, consider working with a consulting group to find a perfect fit. At Aureon Consulting, our clients benefit from an established network of consultants and long-term relationships. Our team takes the time to understand the needs and culture of your organization in order to properly match you with a skilled IT consultant. Let us handle the work of finding a consultant, so you can focus on moving your business forward.