Navigating the consultant hiring journey: From discovery to implementation

In the world of business, seeking external expertise can be a game-changer. Consultants bring fresh perspectives, specialised skills, and invaluable insights that can help companies overcome challenges and achieve their goals. However, the path from the initial meeting to successful implementation requires careful navigation. Let's explore the method of how this journey usually unfolds with John Kerr Consulting.

1. Initial meeting: Setting the stage

It all begins with an initial meeting, typically conducted online and lasting about an hour. Here, stakeholders come together to outline the challenges and desired outcomes. Clients openly share pain points and existing strategies, while consultants communicate their approach and expertise. Building mutual trust and understanding lays the groundwork for a fruitful collaboration. For instance, a recent client was questioning the value of exhibiting at major events and sought guidance from us on the best path forward. They emailed us to arrange a call to disucss a challenge they had. After the initial meeting, we both realised we could improve the process, and most likely, improve the result.

2. Meetings with relevant departments

Next, we dive deeper into the issues by meeting with relevant departments, such as sales and marketing. Through discussions, data analysis, and understanding of objectives, we identify issues and areas for improvement. These sessions are not just about highlighting problems; they're about envisioning the ideal future state. By aligning objectives and metrics, stakeholders set the stage for change. For example, understanding the true cost of exhibiting, and clarifying definitions and objectives around leads from the event, proved essential for our most recent client's exhibition strategy.

3. Preparation: Crafting the solution

Armed with insights from two discovery meetings, our consultants dedicate time to research, data analysis, and solution formulation. This phase blends expertise with creativity to design actionable strategies tailored to the client's needs. Thorough preparation ensures recommendations are evidence-based and aligned with best practices.

4. Presentation: Articulating the vision

The next stage is the presentation to stakeholders. Leveraging storytelling techniques, we engage the audience and explain the rationale behind our recommendations. Visual aids and real-world examples bring the solution to life, facilitating understanding and buy-in. Q&A sessions address concerns, ensuring alignment before moving forward. For instance, our recent proposal for an exhibition strategy included lead definitions, pre-event plans, stand engagement strategies, and significant follow-up process changes.

5. Implementation: Turning vision into reality

The true test lies in implementation. Collaboration between consultants and relevant parties is critical as strategies are put into action. For example, in the case of the exhibition strategy, thorough preparation ensured smooth execution. Regular check-ins and progress reports keep stakeholders informed and allow for course corrections. Feedback loops ensure alignment with evolving needs. We created targeted invitations, scripts and key questions to ask visitors to the stand.

The result was the most successful event the company had been involved with. New business appointments were made, orders received, and we are still seeing the benefits of the new process. The cost to the business was less than 5 hours in time, and less than the value of the first order received from the event in money.

In conclusion, hiring a consultant is more than a one-time transaction; it's a journey of discovery and solving of issues that can generate enormous returns. We will continue to measure the lifetime value of the new customers from this event and investigate further areas of opportunity. By fostering open communication, embracing innovation, and staying committed to the end goal, organisations can unlock their full potential. If you're ready to embark on this journey with John Kerr Consulting, visit our website, jkerrconsulting.com or give us a call. Let us help you to solve the challenges you have.