Choosing a Consultant What is a consultant A

Choosing a Consultant

What is a consultant? • A consultant is an individual (or, sometimes, a group or organization) that brings experience and expertise about an issue or process to an initiative, organization, group, government entity, or community. • A consultant may provide: • Knowledge of an issue. • Knowledge of a process. • Specific skills. • Objectivity.

Why might you seek a consultant? • • To solve a problem you can’t solve on your own. To facilitate a process. To bring specific knowledge or theory to your work. To borrow skills your organization doesn’t have. To carry out a specific, often time-limited task. To mediate a dispute or a difficult situation. To bring a fresh, unbiased perspective to the organization.

When might you seek a consultant? When you’re about to start something new. When you’re in a transition period. When there’s a serious problem. When there’s a need for more organizational structure, but you don’t know how to go about planning for or implementing it. • When you don’t have the in-house capacity to perform a necessary task or process. • When you need an outside evaluator. • •

Whom might you ask to be a consultant? Professional consultants Academics and researchers Former public officials Current or former staff or directors of organizations that deal with your issue • People with specific professional skills • People affected by the issue you’re working with • People with specific cultural expertise • •

How do you choose a consultant? • Define clearly what you want done. • Determine the skills and knowledge the consultant will need to do the job. • Determine the personal characteristics the consultant will need to work well with your organization. • Determine what you can afford. • Recruit candidates. • Screen, interview, and choose among applicants. • Evaluate the consultant’s work and its results.