Even though your business is considered successful, you still feel like there’s more that can happen; you’re just not sure how or what. You’ve thought about hiring a business consultant but don’t really think that it’s worth the expense because you’re not sure how they can help you.
Being so close to your business, it’s hard to see how an outsider could really understand what’s needed and how to do it without being a part of the business. The ability to see your business objectively and provide you with active, viable solutions is part of the process of working with a business consulting professional.
Working with a management consultant means you’re ready to do what’s necessary to help your business thrive. The first step is finding the right fit.
Learn New Skills
Chances are your business marketing strategy may not be bringing the best results. Business consultants will put your strategy under the microscope and work with stakeholders in your business to implement techniques that optimize opportunities, and bring qualified leads through the door. Skills like project management, resource utilization and problem identification can make a big difference in your business. The more you learn about how to implement these skills in your business, the better prepared you’ll be to implement the necessary steps to succeed.
Create Business Systems
Creating a business system forces you to address the specific steps you need to take to succeed. When you’re that focused, you’re forced to think things through and make better decisions. Being a business manager means that you’re wearing a lot of hats and probably judging competing priorities. A business management consultant can provide the experience, objectivity and focus that will help you improve your business and make it more adaptable.
Change Behaviors
We know the old adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, but when you change behavior, you can often change consequences. Most business managers are focused on things that prompt behavior, such as managing expectations or adhering to company norms, instead of things that can have a significant impact on future behavior, like trying new ideas or embracing culture change. Working with a business management consultant helps to create an environment where positive consequences can be encouraged, and new ideas can be tested.
Discover New Opportunities
Business consultants spend their time working with a variety of organizations, which helps to build extensive networks, strategic partnerships and joint ventures. Whether you’re building a new business or entity, growing a line of business, or maintaining a steady stream of business, a business management consultant can work with you to identify ways to expand your business in ways that minimize costs and maximize exposure.
Those of you who are familiar with us know that we take a somewhat unique approach to business management consulting.
In addition to the research, reporting and advisements of traditional consultants, we actually enjoy getting our hands dirty with execution.
That sounds a bit gruesome, doesn’t it?
What we’re trying to say is that we don’t just determine the appropriate course of action; we roll up our sleeves and help make it happen. Over the years – as we’ve helped clients of all sizes and industries – we eventually codified this process. Today, it’s known to us (and now you) as the “3P” method of business consulting: poking, prodding and producing. Again, context is everything when it comes to business lingo, isn’t it?
Anyway, if you’re unfamiliar with this approach, we wanted to briefly outline the basics in the event that you or someone you know might be looking for more value from a business consultant. So with that in mind, allow me to quickly explain the benefits of this approach by pillar. Here we go…
Poking: In the world of business management consulting, nothing is ever as it appears. The client knows there is a problem (why else would they contact a consultant?) but often times they are not entirely sure what that problem actually is. A lot of consultants simply take their word for it and immediately begin working on a solution. We take an alternate route. Instead of accepting the client’s version of the problem, we examine the business ourselves, and in doing so, we often end up drawing much different conclusions. In other words, we make sure we’re trying to solve the right problem.
Prodding: Once we’ve identified the underlying issue, we dig deep into the details. What factors are contributing to the problem and making it worse? Are the problems a result of people, processes or systems? Are they caused by a lack of planning, a lack of execution or a misinterpretation of data? Unlike the first phase, this process is highly collaborative, as we spend a great deal of time interviewing key stakeholders (as well as customers in some instances) to determine the specifics of a particular challenge.
Producing: The problem has been identified, along with the symptoms. Next comes the fun part. Now it’s time to create and implement a solution. As you might expect, this process varies greatly depending on the client and their specific challenge. They might be launching a new inbound marketing initiative and need to remodel their business plan or revise their sales process. They might be looking to increase operational efficiency and need an overhauled operating model. Or, they may need additional resources to be on-site as needed, to understand their business and address challenges in real time. Whatever the challenge, we take the lead to address it.
It’s the “producing” part of the approach that separates us from the vast majority of business management consultants out there. Today’s businesses are increasingly looking for more tactical, hands-on execution, not just suggestions on the appropriate course of action.
This isn’t a big change for us – it’s what we’ve been doing for more than a decade.
Does this sound like an approach that can move your business further? If so, drop us a note.
Are you talking over the heads of your audience? It’s easy to do without realizing it.
One of the benefits of being a business management consultant is getting out in the world every day and meeting people from various types of companies and industries.
I recently had the opportunity to participate in a working session with the Board of a trade association in New England. The goal of the session was to educate the group on how to use social media business tools and social media marketing and then evaluate the best way to use them in the organization and each company. The session was a good learning experience for the participants and a reminder of basics that are easy to overlook.
If you want to NAIL your message and make sure you’re not losing your audience, here are some things to consider:
1. Everyone starts at their own place and moves at their own pace
The most difficult part about working with a large group is that everyone starts at a different place, and tends to move along at their own pace. It’s important to be mindful of this – and when someone doesn’t get it, stop and reinforce the concept.
2. New things can be intimidating
While we were talking about technology and how to include it in business, one participant claimed that “when the fax machine came, that should have been it”. Ok, so not everyone is an early adopter. Remember the first cell phones?
3. Change can be empowering
Some of the biggest challenges come from the ability to execute and provide real solutions to business problems using social media business tools. By the end of our time together, the creative juices in the group were flowing, and the room was buzzing with ideas.
4. If you don’t use it, you may lose it
We see this one a lot when we’re helping companies with solutions to business problems: we work with them to develop a process or to acquire new skills in the company. Unless the process is used consistently, it won’t “stick” in the company. The same goes for developing new skills. Make it a habit to take care of your online presence every day. When you continue to use these tools again and again, they’ll become part of your routine.
5. If you build it, will they come?
When you talk about introducing new ways of doing things, you inevitably make some folks uncomfortable. When we talk about “starting conversations” and “building relationships” with employees, suppliers, or prospects … well, that can be a bit uncomfortable for some. The real point here is this: if you create a way for your customers, employees and suppliers to communicate with you, be ready to enter into the discussion.
6. There’s safety in numbers
Forming partnerships is critical in today’s marketplace. Whether you’re outsourcing general tasks in your business, or looking for new ways to reach customers and market your products, don’t forget that there are others who are in the same boat. Find them, and look for ways to collaborate and share information with them.
7. Value is in the eye of the beholder
Let’s say you’re trying to get your arms around a specific issue – like moving a distribution center, or consolidating a product line. The amount of energy, time and money that you want to put into solving the issue depends on how valuable the outcome can be. Keep in mind that what might be worthwhile and valuable to some may not be to all.
8. You never know how people are going to react
The mental attitude of your audience will affect their reaction. And don’t forget: your business attitude is a choice.
Do you find that learning new things is intimidating? What’s been your experience with these? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
