Way the word ‘Consultancy’ has been understood has changed over the times. In today’s business parlance, it has become a fuzzy world in itself.
The business which has been made around consultancy is now in a sticky situation. We are drifting from true intentioned consultancy because of the working of twin factors.
Firstly, consultancy firms are trying to get business out of anything through heavy BD activities, which more often lead to a non-cohesive consultancy.
This has consequently build up enough of hot air and led to a development of wisdom which is shared by clients where they say that consultancy is majorly forced & unnecessary. Many a times, the clients themselves take decisions, provoked by PR activities and the innate urge to get consultancy.
Due to the growing of such attitude, from all the parties, true consultancy has eventually been dwarfed. Moreover, the quality of that ‘true consultancy’ has plummeted because the pool of quality skilled consultants has been distributed to number of consultancy wings in number of firms. The best part is that in order to make up a sizable consultancy team, companies tend to fill the remainder with professionals which are nascent in the industry/fresh MBAs. Earlier, the ratio was opposite, which apart from giving quality work, helped the young professionals to grow well under excellent tutelage.
The hated phrase in the coterie of consultants is “I don’t need a consultant to tell about my own business”. But going by the consultancies offered these days, it might be right for many of the consultants.
It is necessary to state here that at this juncture of the economy, the one thing which is absolutely essential is quality consultancy. Some big changes are required to be done and some serious inward thinking as well.
The basic Do’s, which everyone knows are pointed below, but they are accompanied with points which are needed at this hour to set things back to the Do’s from where we have faltered:
- Analyse a business from a fresh pair of eyes perspective #This basic cannon has been vandalized by both the consultants and clients. The consultants become more busy in establishing interpersonal relationships and loose sight to see the basic issues at hand. At the other hand, the client is too resilient to understand that they truly have an issue resulting from an attitude ‘This cannot happen in MY backyard’. Both the parties need to get their act right over this issue.
- Come up with observations with complete candor. #Consultants need to have candor and be vocal about observations. The thought of making revelation, no matter how big it may be, about the business should never be held back.
- Aim to be pulled, not to push. # If You aim for the latter, it really won’t be sustainable or things would eventually come up to be very difficult to handle.
- The consultancy ‘Industry’ has to go along together. #This is one such industry where clamouring to reach an exalted place, leaving others would lead to nothingness. It is one such industry, which is already small and must strive for sustained and quality growth, together.
Violet Root 