When Is Not The Right Time To Hire A Strategy Consultant

As someone who's been at a software company, a retailer, a supply chain provider, and now running a consulting firm I've seen many different uses for consultants. But there are times when it's just not a great idea:

* When there is no clear internal owner of the question being decided.

Even if the consultant gives you a great idea, you will not be in a position to move on it anyway. Unless you are being hired by the CEO ;-), in which case that person could create someone.

Sometimes a consultant's recommendations can create new politics rather than resolving things.

* When you avoid making a tough decision on an employee who was already supposed to be owning what the consultant is now thinking about.

Sometimes you might give something to a consultant because your current internal owner isn't performing as well as you like.

Now you have two problems: a hurt employee and a consultant with no support or direction.

* When you aren't ready to hear what they will have to say.

A consultant doesn't have to bother with internal politics, hurt feelings, sunk cost, which, while that can be valuable... but other times it can create doubt in the minds of employees. If employees now believe leadership doesn't know what they are doing, that can create new problems too.

* When there is an obvious internal owner who just needs more time.

Sometimes consultants are hired to "speed things up." I'm here to tell you, not everything can be sped up. Sometimes things just take time and for the employee it's valuable for them to learn and grow from their own mistakes. Of course, time does cost money, but sometimes you have the time to spend.

* When you are short on cash.

Strategy consultants are best suited to high-value problems. Trying to solve a high-value problem with an outsider when you are short on cash is probably not a great plan. It means you aren't valuing the expertise needed to solve the problem. Which means the outcome may not be as important as you think it is. Or, if you are the CEO in this situation, you probably just need to figure it out yourself, take a decision, and move on.

* If you aren't going to take action on the answers

It seems obvious, but don't hire a consultant if you aren't at least seriously considering making changes based on the recommendations. Better to spend your money another way.

* When the issue in question is not a top priority at the moment.

Bringing in a high-level consultant to solve a minor problem is like using a sledgehammer to drive a nail. Sure it could work, but could be better to solve the problem more simply.

Or perhaps the timing isn't good, and it's best to wait until other more substantial issues are resolved and this particular issue becomes the top one.