First of all, the services of consulting agencies will be useful to those companies that have specific production, management, financial and legal problems. But even a perfectly profitable business can always be improved and modernized.
That is why large companies cooperate with consultants on a regular basis. For example, once every six months, consultants come to the company, conduct a full-scale audit, identify weaknesses and eliminate shortcomings at the initial stage.
Now, here are detailed instructions for novice businessmen.
Step 1. Choose a consulting company
It is not easy to find competent consultants, given the fact that the consulting industry is just beginning to enter the stage of intensive development.
To continue the medical analogy, you should look for a good advisor in the same way as a good doctor. It is best to ask acquaintances, friends, and business colleagues (not competitors). Real feedback is 150 times more valuable and reliable than anonymous reviews on the Internet. Although online reviews should not be neglected, sometimes you can find exclusive information and compromising material there.
Criteria for choosing a consulting firm:
work experience (more than 10 years – take note);
number of completed projects;
availability of regular partners from among well-known and large companies;
qualifications and credibility of individual employees;
a well-designed and functional website.
And remember that you will have to work with specific specialists, not an abstract organization. So the main thing is to find smart people.
Your goal at this stage is to distinguish a certified doctor from a charlatan. Ask questions to the candidate, be persistent. Professional consultants like to talk to clients, amateurs prefer to keep silent, and if they answer, they are in a mess.
Step 2. Sign a contract and pay for services
A prerequisite is the conclusion of a contract with the company.
The document must specify:
the terms of the work;
a full list of services and their cost;
terms of early termination of the contract;
obligations of both parties.
Both one-time agreements and long-term contracts on a subscription basis are practiced. The payment method depends on the agreement.
Step 3. Provide the necessary data for analysis
The consultants will need documents that will help them comprehensively study and analyze all aspects of the company’s activities. Trust your advisors, and they will respond to you with hard work.
The more information they have at their disposal, the more effective their work will be.
Step 4. Approve the change implementation plan
After the change plan is developed, the advisors coordinate it with the client.
At this stage, it is worth checking whether the company has enough resources to implement the planned changes in practice.
Step 5. Implement changes and organize a control system
The final stage is project implementation. Management needs to take control of the task. If necessary, employees need to be trained in new skills and explained the content and objectives of the innovations.