Tips on Choosing a Consultant

These tips apply to choosing any professional to help you in your business.

1 Try to be clear about what you want. What do you need this person to be able to do for you? What do you want to be able to do/ understand/ feel differently after you have worked with them?.

2 Ask the consultant about their qualifications and experience in helping people with needs like yours. Any professional should be perfectly comfortable talking about this. This is especially important for lesser-known or emerging professions. ( and while there are no absolute guarantees, it reduces the risk of striking a "one-workshop-wonder".) If you feel like you aren't getting a straight answer, go elsewhere.

3 Your consultant must have excellent communication skills. All the knowledge or qualifications in the world aren't going to help you if the consultant cant ask the right questions, explain things clearly, or doesn't listen to your concerns.

4 Don't accept anyone who talks down, is rude or patronising, or who pressures you into signing a contact before you are ready.

5 A good consultant has a practical objectivity. That is, they can remain positive yet realistic. They stay focused, and have a balanced view of all the factors affecting your situation.

6 Ask him/her to describe their work processes. They should be able to describe simply and clearly what they do. Jargon and vague terms should be explained or preferably not used at all.

7 Ask about the fees. Do they have an hourly rate or a flat fee?. Would there be any other charges such as administration, travel or expenses? Can they estimate how long the work will take? (This last is often a hard one to answer.)

8 In negotiations, focus on the results you want from the service, rather than the tasks to be performed. Don't be "blinded by science".