Strategies to Make Consultants a Part of Your Team

Consultants can help you manage costs, close skill gaps, keep projects on track and keep your team productive. However, those benefits are only able to be realized if you take the necessary steps to make those consultants part of the team. Use these strategies to ensure a smooth transition for both the consultant and your existing team.

It Starts With Hiring

Cultural alignment and a personality that fits well with the group are critical success factors when hiring permanent staff. However, it is equally important to hire consultants for fit, as well. Even though a consultant may only be with the team for a few weeks or months, it is important to make sure they will work well with the group and their values are in line with the organization’s values.

Communicate With Your Team Early and Often

It is natural for your permanent staff to be wary of a short-term consultant. The rumor mill can run rampant and before you know it, everyone is feeling on edge. Mistrust and misunderstanding will lead to a closed-off group that isn’t welcoming to the consultant, which can be detrimental to everyone’s success

It is important to communicate with your team as soon as you know you will be bringing someone in for the short term. Explain why you are seeking a skilled consultant and outline the exact role they will play. Allow people time to ask questions so you can address their concerns and fears directly, taking time to address your vision for fitting the consultant into the group.

Onboard Consultants Like Employees

In order to make a consultant feel like a member of the group, they must be treated as an equal and put through the same onboarding processes as permanent employees.  This shows everyone the consultant is on the same level as the rest of the group and sets the tone for equal treatment.

Ask How It’s Going

Make sure to check in with the consultant on a regular basis to see how things are going and whether they feel like a member of the team. If they say they don’t quite feel integrated, ask what needs to change. You can’t be involved in every aspect of employee interactions all day, every day, so the only way to really know if things are going smoothly is to ask for feedback.

Are You Ready to Put Consultants to Work for Your Team?

If you are ready to learn more about how to strategically utilize consultants for success, contact the experts at Morris Bixby Group today. Together, we can help you achieve your goals.

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