PREP NCVO External Consultants

External Consultants:Your New Best Friends? : External Consultants: Your New Best Friends? Dr Simon N Davey Managing Associate Preponderate.network www.preponderate.net


We’d love to… but we don’t have time… : We’d love to… but we don’t have time… "Here comes Edward Bear now, down the stairs behind Christopher Robin. Bump! Bump! Bump! on the back of his head. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming down stairs. He is sure that there must be a better way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment to think of it.“ – A.A.Milne


What is an external consultant? : What is an external consultant? They work for someone else They have an ‘outside’ view They tell it like it is They earned the right to be called a ‘consultant’


Why use external consultants? : Why use external consultants? Experts in specific issues Previous experience Different perspective NOT Someone to blame when it goes wrong


What makes a good external consultant? : What makes a good external consultant? Empathy Experience Expertise Credibility Someone you feel comfortable with


The Trusted Advisor : The Trusted Advisor Evidence of competence Evidence of experience Evidence of interest in you and your organisation A good attitude towards work (professional and friendly) “Olu fast became a friend and trusted advisor”


Where do you findgood consultants : Where do you find good consultants Recommendations from people you trust ‘Trusted’ directories e.g. NCVO Recommendations from organisations/media you trust Making contributions to groups/charities/issues NOT usually out of the phone book Consultants are like children – don’t get one in a hurry


How do you select a consultant : How do you select a consultant Take recommendations and do background research Make shortlist of candidates Invite them to ‘tender’ (they’ll need a good brief) Interview the strongest candidates Decide which ones ‘fit the bill’ (group decision) Agree a workplan/fee structure Sign on the dotted line


How do you get the best out of them? : How do you get the best out of them? Know what you want Brief them well (provide as much detail as possible) Agree the project in writing Communicate well – be honest, constructive and easily contactable Don’t be defensive if you hear something you don’t like Hold review meetings and keep an eye on progress Don’t interfere!


Telling them what you want : Telling them what you want Agree with colleagues/management that this is what you really want Agree tangible deliverables Brief the consultant (a good consultant will shy away from something he/she cannot do) Badly briefed consultants fail regardless of ability/effort Keep in close contact with the consultant during the project Never, ever, ignore your consultant’s questions!


Bite Sized Chunks : Bite Sized Chunks Keep it simple Start small and work up Don’t expect a new consultant to know your needs overnight Get success in early (use staged targets) Break the project into bite sized chunks


It’s a Partnership : It’s a Partnership Menage a trois You, them and the project Take responsibility


Issue Management : Issue Management If you don’t like them, don’t hire them If you don’t trust them, don’t hire them If they mess up once, work it out If they keep messing up, sack them “Nearly finished” x3 = “we don’t have a clue what we’re doing” Always have a back up plan


But you’re only a charity : But you’re only a charity Beware the ‘favour’ (Some) consultants do have heart What effect will a ‘discount’ have on service? Get someone with experience of the sector Don’t mix volunteering and paid consultancy with same consultant


Beware The Wonder Consultant : Beware The Wonder Consultant No one is perfect No one knows everything Cheap isn’t better Good consultants rarely give it away


Beware the Gifted Amateur : Beware the Gifted Amateur What have they done before? Who have they done it with? Is this sufficiently similar to this job? Do they have the time and resources to do the job? Are they credible? If you’re worried now, you’ll be petrified later


Good Projects Sometimes Fail Anyway : Good Projects Sometimes Fail Anyway IT projects rarely work to expectations Successful IT projects are a result of technical, strategic, management and partnership excellence You get back what you put in You can never guarantee success


Case Study: Success : Case Study: Success Good brief with tangible, understood, deliverables Well chosen consultant with good skills match Effective partnership from first meeting Close working relationship Effective issue management SUCCESSFUL project


Case Study: Failure : Case Study: Failure Good brief with tangible but misunderstood deliverables Well chosen consultant with good skills match Partnership good at first but breaking down Arms length working relationship Scope creep Miscommunication around issue management FAILED project


How to make every project fail : How to make every project fail Forget the brief and just get on with it Don’t tell them what you want and why Pick the cheapest person for the job Demand it’s done in half the time it should take


Why do Consultants Mess Up : Why do Consultants Mess Up Overcomplicated projects Bad management/communication Mismatch of expectations Bad day at the office Maybe they weren’t so great anyway


Fitting square pegsinto round holes : Fitting square pegs into round holes Don’t ask Jonny Wilkinson to win a penalty shootout in the FOOTBALL World Cup


Q&A : Q&A Why/what can’t you do yourself? What are external consultants good for? Aren’t they all profiteers? Experiences…


Preponderate.network : Preponderate.network "A network of consultants and professional firms providing complete project solutions to businesses, charities and the public sector whilst supporting the local communities in which they work." Dr Simon N Davey Managing Associate E: simon@preponderate.net - T: 0705 018 8707