How to Work with Consultants | Video

Working with consultants is unfamiliar to many project managers and project team members. But, if you do it right, you will get the best possible value from your organization’s investment. So, how do you work with consultants?

I was a Project and Program Management consultant for 12 years and have consulted less formally for the last 20. So, that’s over 30 years of experience, on which to base my advice.

This video is safe for viewing in the workplace.

This is learning, so, sit back and enjoy

Working with Consultants, Stage 1: Before You Hire Your Consultants

1. First things first. Take the time internally to carefully define what you need, so that you can issue a clear and precise brief.
   This will help your potential consultants to propose specific solutions and to price them accurately.
2. Always evaluate the proposals against the brief first.
   Treat any off-brief elements separately. Assess them carefully: has the consultant suggested something you need, or is it merely a nice-to-have?
3. If the consultants will be working on your site, among your people, then it is also a good idea to evaluate the personalities, attitudes, and culture of the consultant or consulting team. Meet as many people as you can.

Working with Consultants, Stage 2: At the Start of the Consulting Engagement

1. You will be paying your consultants for the work they do, which you have commissioned. And you should consider their formal proposal as a part of their contract to you. But, it pays to issue precise, formal instructions, in writing.
2. And brief the consultant or team fully, either before they start or as part of a kick-off session.
3. From your instructions and the brief, develop an ‘evidence procedure’.
   This is a set of measures against which you will measure their performance.
   Share it with them, so they know clearly what success looks like.
4. Now set up effective reporting procedures, that include:
   • Regular reports
   • Milestone reviews
   • A process for ad hoc reports in the instance of exceptions 
5. And finally, make sure you cover all your admin efficiently. You don’t want to be wasting their time dealing with your admin, like getting access passes.

Working with Consultants, Stage 3: During the Consulting Engagement

1. The most important thing during the engagement is to work collaboratively with your consultants, and see them as part of your wider team.
   Build a relationship that helps you work together as effectively as possible.
2. The next thing to look out for is changes to their brief – which can be costly.
3. If you do need to change things, make your decisions internally and document them.
4. And have a formal internal process for issuing new or revised instructions.
   This needs to align with any contractual variation order process.
   Once again, ensure any instructions you issue are precise.

Working with Consultants, Stage 4: Letting Your Consultants Go at the End of the Engagement

1. It’s vital that you avoid becoming dependent upon consultants or, if they are on a rolling contract, you don’t forget to release them, when they have done the work you need of them. Neither:
   • allow them to be a crutch that avoids you properly delegating to your own staff, nor
   • allow them to find ways to overstay their welcome.
2. Before they leave, however, be sure to debrief them thoroughly, so you can harvest any knowledge, methods, or insights that they have accumulated. Often, this stuff is gold-dust.
3. And, once again, get the exit admin right, being sure to remove any passes or access keys from them.
4. And maybe consider changing security codes!

The Most Important Thing about Working with Consultants…

Finally, the most important thing is to be a well-informed client. Ask questions and make sure you understand everything – especially before agreeing to a recommendation that you don’t initially understand fully.

Recommended Videos

Carefully curated video recommendations for you:

• A Fixed Price Contract for Your Project: Pros and Cons | Video
• Should a Project Manager Get Involved in Contract Negotiations?
• Competitive Procurement: How to Run a Tender Process | Video

What Kit does a Project Manager Need?

I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list. I added my own. 

Check out the Kit a Project Manager needs

Note that the links are affiliated.

Learn Still More

For more great Project Management videos, please subscribe to the OnlinePMCourses YouTube channel.

If you want basic Management Courses – free training hosted on YouTube, with 2 new management lessons a week, check out our sister channel, Management Courses.

For more of our Project Management videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management.

For more of our videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management.