Consultants Don’t Have to Suck
Believe me, we are well aware of the overpriced consultant that does nothing to deserve the money you’ve agreed to pay them. We have hired and worked with the consultant who promises big things and produces almost nothing.
Just like anything in life, there are consultants who are good at what they do and then consultants who shouldn’t be doing what they do at all. What separates the good consultants from the bad consultants is work ethic. Talking the talk is easy. If you get the talk down, people will hire you. But, consultants also have to put their heads down and work up a sweat like the rest of the group.
When contracting a consultant, make sure work output is included in your agreement. What are the deliverables? What is the work product? What will be achieved during each quarter? What is the consultant responsible for achieving and what are you and your staff responsible for achieving? Roles and goals should be clearly defined.
At the end of the day with any contractor, you should have the deck you envisioned, or the clear pipes you need, or the fixed car you paid for. A service has been rendered and you should be satisfied with the work that has been done. Consultants for nonprofits are contractors too and should be held to a similar standard.
That way, when you have to report on the money you’ve spent to your Board of Directors, you are very clear on what you received in return. You are happy; you look smart for hiring great consultants; you saved money and time; and your organization is in a better place then before. A win win situation for all.
