By definition, consultants are high-level system and technology experts with the innate ability to investigate a business problem and then provide and implement an effective solution. The goal is to bridge a performance gap and set a client up for long-term success. Achieving this outcome in the near term, while your business consulting partner is still present and available to you and your team, is the simpler side of the equation. What is more complex is designing a solution that maintains its value to your business after the contract with the consultant has expired. Long-term impact and sustained success are the ultimate evaluators of the effectiveness of your consultant. You have a problem that requires a solution now, but the sustainability of the solution is what is most vital for the future of your business.
If your company is in a position where you believe you will benefit from management consulting, then you should be applauded for maximizing your current potential and seeking structures and processes that will deliver even more returns. Your management consulting firm will find solutions to help your enterprise reach its goals. This will come in the form of practical advice and, usually, professional services like IT systems integration. The point at which the consultant’s direction is put into practice will elicit excitement that the project is completed. In reality, however, the determination of the project’s success is just beginning. Without enterprise-wide adoption, the time and money expended on seeking a solution are lost.
How can you be confident that your management consultant provided a solution with long-term value to your company? Here are a few indicators that you have received a solution that will affect the change you are looking for:
Top management consulting firms are well versed in the rules and regulations of multiple verticals and are adept at getting up to speed quickly if there is a facet or nuance they are not familiar with. The best firms take this one step further and develop a deeper understanding of your industry from your perspective to understand your competitive landscape and positioning concerning the business you are looking to acquire. If you are confident your management consultant is advising from a position of deep intelligence, you will be more confident in the solutions being provided.
Simply put, it is impossible to provide management advice for your company without a thorough understanding of the business model, structure, teams, and people you rely on to conduct your business. Top management consulting firms will perform a holistic analysis of your entire organization and use the knowledge they obtain to lay the foundation for the customized solutions they are proposing. Generalities and a one-size-fits-all approach will not solve your problem. If you feel this is what you are being given, you will experience challenges in confidently sharing the results with your team which will be noticed and results in limited adoption.
This seems obvious, but the sense that a consultant just told executive teams a bunch of stuff they already know is unfortunately a common perception. A fresh set of eyes and ears should lead to fresh solutions. Top management consultants will be interested in your insight on the root causes of your business challenges, and they will use these as a starting point to dig deeper. Unbiased analysis of financial reporting and team member interviews will shed additional light on your business challenge. Sometimes a restructuring of teams and personnel is in order, sometimes your organization doesn’t have the tools necessary to be as effective as it can be. It could be a combination of these two things, or other factors may be at play. Regardless of what is uncovered, your management consulting firm will have the tools to direct you in overcoming these unforeseen underlying issues.
Regardless of the things your management consulting firm uncovers and the solutions that are proposed, it is imperative that your leadership team understands and believes in the strategy and is confident it will deliver the outcome you expect. This must happen before you present the strategy and direction to the company at large. If you have questions or concerns, make sure they are addressed. Your management consulting firm will have the data, experience, and insights to justify its position on the plan moving forward. As previously stated, if your organization’s leadership team is not fully behind the changes being implemented, your teams will perceive this and be slow to adopt as well. If you cannot embrace the change, you cannot expect your team too.
Top management consulting firms propose solutions from a position of confidence based on a combination of their experience and the due diligence they have performed in arriving at a tailored solution for your company. Even when the best outcomes are expected, change will naturally bring about resistance within an organization. To mitigate this as much as possible, the implementation plan will be flexible and designed to minimally impact your business’s current flow of operations. Additionally, your leadership team should be prepared with talking points and examples to minimize doubt and encourage adoption. A plan to address individuals and teams who will not get on board should be in place before the implementation strategy is set into motion. The ultimate goal of any solution is to move your company forward and empower everyone to achieve success. Unified messaging focused on these points will lead to more rapid adoption.
It cannot be stressed enough that your management consulting firm should be a partner, not a vendor. The commencement and completion of an implementation plan should not be the end of your relationship. You should be provided with all the documentation and ongoing support you need to sustain the solution to your complex business problem, and your business consulting firm should provide regular check-ins to ensure everything is continuing to go as expected. They should also provide assurances to you that they will be available should clarification be needed, or if unexpected issues arise. Top business consulting firms are interested in your sustained success and are more than willing to maintain your partnership.
If the solutions to your business problems were simple, you would not have sought the guidance of a management consulting firm in the first place. Once you have committed time and expense to overcome your challenges, you must be confident in the direction you received. A solid plan and rapid enterprise-wide adoption are crucial to achieving the outcomes you expected and preparing your company to continue its growth trajectory into the future.
If you need management consulting, contact Donyati with your business challenge today. Our experienced, multi-disciplined team will attack your business challenge and provide sustainable results that will instill confidence in your leadership team.