• Would I Hire a Consultant?

 
Recently a friend asked me if I had turned to consultants for advice and counsel when I was in the corporate world.

For the most part the answer was no, I did not.

She was surprised that as an executive, I hadn’t been open to outside help. My mind recalled the thoughts of, “I don’t need outside help, I am an expert … They’re too expensive … It will appear to others as if I don’t know what to do … I don’t have time to bring someone up to speed … They only tell you what you already know… etc. My perception of consultants was of overpriced “experts” who knew nothing of my business and were never on the firing line on a daily basis like I was.

With that kind of a mindset, it might be hard to understand how I became a consultant. The truth is that there are real reasons for deciding to bring in a management consultant like the following:

1. When there is a performance deficit and you are not sure what to do about it.
2. When there is a lack of knowledge or skill to address an issue.
3. When there is the talent, but a lack of time to address an issue.
4. When current efforts are not producing the desired long-term results.
5. When an independent third party opinion is needed.

 
I still wouldn’t hire an outsider who professed to know all about my business and had all of the answers, but I would and have hired a “virtual team” of the brightest and best, knowledgeable advisors in a variety of fields to help me develop my business better and faster than I could have on my own. I have also hired consultants to guide me in areas that were new to me.

In the process of building my business, I have learned that a good consultant is not an expert with all the answers, but rather an advisor, mentor, guide and counselor to help accomplish more than I could on my own and to do it quicker. As an operating manager, the details of the daily business are all consuming and they are critical to business. Outside consultants have a fresh perspective and tend to focus on the big picture, the latest thinking and processes to facilitate change. The really good ones know how and when to mix your specific issues with their big picture or new process in a positive way and genuinely working to insure your success.

I have heard from clients and learned from my own experience:

Roadblocks can be overcome faster with a fresh perspective.

A good consultant can tweak an issue and quickly get you past it to the next level.

How much time and money we saved when guided to better focus our energies.

How much quicker and smoother our transition was once we had practical input on change management techniques.

How much better 2 “expert” minds are than 1.

How much of a relief it is to have a trusted counterpart with good solid advice without a hidden agenda.

How we benefited from exceptional talent without the cost of a full time employee.

How we avoided pitfalls by using someone who had been there before.

I know the resistance that people have to outside help and training, because I was the same way. I also know from experience the benefit a good consultant can be … if it is the right fit. Cannon Advantage was founded to help individuals and organizations benefit from what I have learned and avoid the pitfalls along the way. Who wouldn’t benefit from a fresh perspective, someone who has the experience, the education and the skills that have proven successful for others, but without the golden parachute or the overhead charges for the marble walled agency?

(Special thanks to Linda Yarbrough of www.themediamix.net for the question.)

• Thank You!

As we come to the end of 2003, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your part in helping make this our best year ever. Thank you to our clients who have made this possible. Thank you to the over 450 executives now receiving our electronic version of “Taking Aim.” There are a couple of hundred still on our snail mail version, but we hope to get them converted to electronic in the next few months. Thank you to the “Virtual Team” including Jim, Kim, Linda, Pat, Peg, Peter and Vickie for your support, your wisdom and your friendship.

We wish you all the Blessings of this happy and holy season
both now and throughout the coming year.

• ISO Reminder

Less than 2 weeks to meet the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) requirement for obtaining and using information on customer satisfaction. If you haven’t started, call 216.408.9495 for the Cannon Advantage Solution.

• Website Update

Upon completion of the Certification Program in “Appreciative Inquiry” at the Weatherhead School at Case Western Reserve University, we have completed many changes to the website to reflect how this emerging process can benefit our clients. If you haven’t seen the site lately, we encourage you to visit and see the changes for yourself.

If you have a subject that you would like to see covered in future issues of “Taking Aim,” please send me an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .