There is no doubt about it, a good
consultant is a valuable resource,
but also one that has associated
costs. Letting your consultant sit
idle wastes resources and
interrupts the momentum of
progress.
Happily though, there are steps you can take to make your relationship with your consultant productive from the outset.
Decide on use of space, equipment, and support. Most consultants will need to spend at least some time compiling, analyzing, or reporting data. Where can your consultant "set up shop" and be out of your way, but accessible? Will the consultant need a phone, computer, or other equipment? If there will be a complex schedule of meetings or interviews, is there a support team member who can help make arrangements? Think these issues through before the consultant arrives on site. Then you won’t waste valuable time on last minute logistics.
Prepare information ahead of time. Assemble and organize the information the consultant will refer to before she or he arrives. Often manuals, organizational charts, financial reports, and other records are needed for the consultant to understand your organization. Having them ready shortens the consultant’s "learning curve."
Write down the questions you would like to have answered. While you may not be sure of everything you will eventually want to know, you can help your consultant target his or her efforts by knowing and communicating some of what you want initially from the consulting relationship. Putting your concerns on paper will help you clarify your own thinking and remember the issues you want to discuss.
Plan ahead. Before your consultant leaves, set a time and preliminary agenda for the next visit. Avoid the "I'll-call-you-later" syndrome that often results in long periods when you forget or are unable to schedule visits. Consulting is like riding in the Tour de France. Each leg is an individual race, but the overall winner is the one with the best cumulative score! You will want to preserve the momentum you and your consultant have developed. Make sure you win by planning to preserve what you have already accomplished and to build on it.
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