My Consultant Is Not My Enemy

First Concern: Yes, We Want to Work!

That's all we ask for; however, we are human beings, not a purchase order, not a slave, and not a claimant. Our work and motivation are to be of service to you because we find this noble and we want to bring you something.

Second Concern: Clients Are Not Very Aware of the Real Need to Use a Consultant

There are two good and two bad reasons for hiring a consultant.

The two good ones are:

• I need an expert that I won't find inside my company.

• I have a peak load, I need to call in a consultant to help me.

The three bad ones:

• I like to blame the consultants, and use them to do what I refuse to do.

• I'm a manager, I don't know how to do anything.

• I am a bad manager, and I have already had a complaint of moral harassment with an employee of my company.

What Your Consultant Should Tell You!

My colleagues and I, on the first day of our assignment in your company, consider ourselves part of the team (except for fairly short assignments). To do this, you must consider your consultant as a member like any other, and not park him in the service providers' office (the one overlooking the street, with the air conditioning down). To think that calling on a consultant protects you from any need for management, supervision, and motivation is to completely fool yourself. We need to be motivated, to be trusted, and to be with customers who know how to recognize our contributions. We work not for you, but with you! 

What do you think of it? Have you experienced the same things? Or is this treatment just "part of the job"? Let me know in the comments!