How to Work with Your Business Consultant to Create a Productive Relationship

Apart from knowing which consultant your business needs to work with, finding the right fit in terms of the one you can work with to create a productive relationship is just as important. It can define and determine the results of this venture. Here’s how to work with the business consultant of your choosing to develop the best possible working relationship with them. 

How to Work as Partners

Once a consultant is contracted, they should be thought of as partners for a business. This sets the tone for the working relationship that you will have with them. With this in mind, you’ll be able to ley the foundations of mutual respect and trust between you - two cornerstones of relationship building.

Business people and consultants have something in common: the innate ability to build and maintain networks. This kind of networking aims to create a relationship that will last beyond the lifespan of the project. Ideally, the consultant should become your go-to, providing you with knowledge that reaches beyond what you initially require of them. By working with someone who has this attitude and level of empathy, you can strengthen the relationship, leading to increased satisfaction on your part and a rich resource as a preferred consultant. You'll be able to then refer back to this consultant for future projects when need be, in a you ask, we answer (right away) sense.

Another essential element is to elicit a space for sharing to occur. The more knowledge you provide a consultant with, the better they will help your business. They should be willing to listen to all that you have to say to make informed choices and strategies, while you should listen to all of the recommendations they make. Learning from the consultant is one of the many benefits a business can take away from such relationships. Be prepared to answer many open-ended questions set forth by the consultant from the very beginning.

Making Agreements with a Business Consultant

As with any relationship, it requires work - and compromise. Both the business and consultant will need to be prepared to compromise for a successful and healthy partnership. Making agreements upfront concerning the working style and expectations is highly recommended. To dig into these two aspects further, consider the following:

• Knowing the working style of a consultant can be a determining factor during the selection stage. It is important because this is what leads to harmonious productivity between the business and consultant. It is also an extension of the company culture, which the consultant will need to understand and fit in with, even if that is one of the elements that require change within your business. 
• Determine the communication requirements you have for the consultant. You’ll need to know when to expect updates and feedback from them, know the recurring meeting days and times and know whether you can call on them at a moments notice. By extension, you should also share the preferred methods of communication. 
• In terms of expectations, you’ll need to set out realistic goals from the get-go. These benchmarks will ensure the consulting stages remain on track and up to par. Some of the agreements you will need to reach include the rates, the time required to complete the project, the target to achieve and any boundaries. 

Ideal Characteristics for a Productive Relationship

When looking for a business consultant to work with, search for someone who is upbeat and positive. They need to be excited about working with your business as it speaks volumes about passion, drive and commitment to the task at hand. 

Working with someone or a team of proactive experts is most ideal. Part of the lure of working with consultants is to present you with alternative and creative solutions that can transform your business. Consultants need to be solutions-orientated!

Being able to rely on the consultant’s support is key, which brings us back to the topic of communication. Each party needs to communicate effectively in a way that brings ease to the other. This requires both the business and consultant to embrace their roles. That means both teams will need to be open to receiving and implement feedback to be productive. Similarly, both need to be held accountable - in terms of past mistakes or issues on behalf of the business and in reaching the required targets on the consultant’s part. 

There you have it: the trifecta of how to work with a business consultant to ensure a productive relationship. When you find the ideal characteristics, work as partners and set the tone of a professional relationship, both the business and consultant will be able to get the very best out of a consultation project. 

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