If you decide to work with a business development or marketing consultant at any time, you'll want to be sure that you get the most you can from the consultant's involvement.
Here are the guidelines that Julian Midwinter & Associates consultants give to our clients. (Bonus eTip: these guidelines will work extra well with best-of-breed consultants in any expert discipline.)
- Be open - please be frank and up-front - tell us about your concerns, problems, and past failures, as well as your strengths. We'll always be entirely discreet and honest.
- Tell us what you expect - until we understand what you want, we won't know how best to help you. Try to be specific. We'll tailor our services to meet your expectations.
- Understand our role - we can guide you through unfamiliar waters, just as you do for your clients. We can be your "friend at court". We can bring new ideas and suggest strategies for achieving your objectives. We can advise you on risks and pragmatic steps to avoid them. But you will always be final decisionmaker.
- Understand our limitations - we do. We believe in setting achievable objectives. We may suggest an alternate solution or another specialist consultant whose expertise will be a better fit for your project.
- Regard us as an extension of your practice - we will learn lots about you through the course of a project. We will endeavour to "add value" on a continuing basis. Your interests will always be paramount in the advice and counsel we offer.
- Give us feedback - we need to know how we're going, what's working, and what isn't. We are sincerely interested in how you're going. Your feedback will help us to do better.
|
