How to choose the right consultant for your Alaska business.

• Author: Dee, Kevin M.
• Position: HR Matters

When you need help or expertise that is not in-house, using a consultant can be a great way to go. A good consultant can assist you through growth pains, help guide you through hard issues, help you work smarter, and guide you through the rocky path of change. Whether it's a complex problem, change management, or as a catalyst to grow your team, consulting done well adds value and is a cost savings in most cases. In the worst cases, consultants overcharge for little value, delivering little except their bill. How do you choose a consultant that will add the most value and meet your needs, all at a reasonable cost?

Why use a consultant? Why not send an employee to get the training or expertise a consultant would bring? Weigh this option seriously. If you run out of time or need the expertise to bring your group together NOW, a neutral third party consultant can be a great shortcut to higher performance.

Whether you need specific expertise, training, facilitation, organizational development, or assistance with human resources--there are consulting firms available.

If you follow these simple guidelines you will be well on your way to getting the assistance you need.

1 Know the result you want so you can clearly communicate it. It doesn't matter if you do or don't know exactly how you want your consultant to help you achieve that result. It does matter that you know the questions you want answered or the products you want delivered through using a consultant. The more you can identify and define the outcomes you want, the better your selection will be.

2 Ping your network of colleagues or professional associations for recommendations. Ask who they have used and who they might know. A referral is always the best for your business and the consultant. Our firm does not advertise and our business is 100 percent referral based.

3 Once you have some consultants in mind, check them out in depth. Meet in person and ask these questions:

* What is their experience and education? Do they have a degree from a reputable college or was it mail order?

* Do they have experience doing similar work? When and with whom? Can you contact them?

* Have they ever had an engagement go bad? Why?

* Is their professional background and certification appropriate for the job at hand?

* Do they have and do they abide by a professional code of ethics? Do they guarantee their work?

* Have they worked in Alaska long? I once saw a consultant on a flight to Bethel refuse to leave...