Between 60 and 70 percent of all change initiatives that organizations undertake fail.
What can you do to prevent failure at your company? Start by hiring a change management consultant.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of hiring a consultant. You’ll also find some tips on how to choose the right change management expert for your company.
What Is a Change Management Consultant?
A change management consultant, also known as an organizational development consultant, oversees the implementation of new concepts within an organization. They also help to transform the way the company operates.
The following are some specific matters that management consultants handle:
- Identifying areas that require change (employees, systems, processes, etc.)
- Creating plans to carry out changes
- Assessing changes and making adjustments to plans as needed
Change management consultants also provide an objective perspective and make sure everyone is on board before any major changes take place.
Benefits of Hiring an Organizational Development Consultant
There are lots of reasons to consider hiring an organizational change expert to work with your team. Here are 9 of the greatest benefits they have to offer:
1. Gain an Outside Opinion
Change management consultants are objective professionals. They don’t have personal or emotional ties to your company, which means they’re free to be open and honest about what needs improvement. This is invaluable for your business and helps you get straight to the root of what you need to do to improve.
2. Make Long-Term Changes
When you work with a change management or organizational development expert, you set your company up to make long-term changes and improvements.
Change management consultants are able to look at your business objectively. Then, they help you make plans that will produce immediate changes as well as growth later down the road.
3. Improve Communication
One of the greatest improvements that companies see when they bring in a change management expert is improvement in communication.
Inefficient and inadequate communication costs businesses millions of dollars per year. How much would get done at your company (and how much money you could save) if you and your team members knew how to communicate effectively with one another?
4. Increase Motivation and Innovation
Getting help and guidance from an organizational change consultant can increase employee motivation and help them to be more engaged in their work. Behavioral health consultants can also help lead the employees to be more innovative and creative in problem-solving, both of which are essential if you want your business to grow and thrive long-term.
5. Gain a Competitive Edge
Have any of your competitors worked with a change management consultant? If not, bringing one in now (even if there isn’t anything technically wrong with how your business is running) can help you gain an advantage for the future.
When you work with a professional now, rather than waiting until your company is in trouble, you can enjoy higher revenue and more staying power.
6. Create Clear Plans for the Future
Change management consultants don’t just tell you and your team what to do differently now. They also tell you what you can do differently in the future to keep the company running smoothly for years to come.
Consultants will give you and your team clear steps to follow. They simplify the change and development processes and set you up for long-term growth.
7. Improve Profits
Every business owner wants their company to be more profitable, right?
When you hire a change management consultant, it might cost a great deal of money initially. However, the returns you’ll get on your investment will almost certainly be worthwhile.
When your business runs more efficiently and your employees are more engaged and productive, you’ll see increased profits and better performances across the board.
8. Reduce Waste
Management consultants also help you save money and increase profits because they reduce waste. They identify ways that you are wasting time, money, and resources. Then, they create a plan to eliminate this waste so that your company is running as efficiently as possible.
9. Improve Teamwork and Relationships
Finally, change management consultants will get your team running like a well-oiled machine.
When everyone communicates well and has a clear plan to follow, you’ll find that their sense of teamwork improves and your employees have stronger relationships. This creates a more positive work environment and a better company culture.
How to Hire an Effective Management Consultant
Change management consultants can do a lot for your business. The key to seeing these results, though, is hiring the right person for the job.
According to the experts at Ignite Consulting, the following tips will help you vet candidates and find the best consultant for your needs:
- Set goals: Decide what you want to change or what issues you need assistance with before you start researching
- Consider expertise: Find a consultant who has worked with companies like yours in the past
- Ask for references: The best consultants will have a long list of references to pass along to you
- Ask about pricing: Find out their fee and their fee schedule
Don’t forget to ask for a copy of the consultant’s contract before you agree to work with them, too. This helps you see exactly what you’re getting into before you start paying them to improve your company.
Invest in Business Management Today
Now that you know more about what a change management consultant does and what they can do for your company, are you ready to hire one? Remember the tips outlined above so you can choose the best person for the job.
If you need more guidance on making positive changes at your business, be sure to check out the Business section of our site today. You’ll find tons of useful resources there that will help you take your company to the next level.
