Could you imagine doing surgery on yourself? Even if you theoretically knew what ailment was bothering you, you’d be wise to get an outside opinion, perhaps a specialist in the field or just another set of eyes to look at the problem. Yet in non-profit management many leaders and boards shy away from using experts, consultants and third party vendors to help the organization grow.
The role of consultants is often misunderstood, sometimes even by the consultant themselves. Consultants are not meant to be all-knowing gurus, they can’t fix your problem for you or make decisions for you.
Yet Non-profits organizations, and individual leaders, can greatly benefit from having relationships with other professionals, peers, consultants and outside vendors.
Here are just a few ways consultants can be used wisely
1. Dispassionate examination of current processes, programs: Bring in others to take a look at your current problems and give you honest feedback. They won’t have your knowledge of sacred cows, problem people and an understanding of your organizational myths…this is a good thing. They’ll likely give you unvarnished advice.
2. Tailored expertise: Small, nimble organizations can no longer pay for every expertise to be in house. Hire consultants to take on targeted tasks to expand capacity.
3. Extra hands on deck: There are times when a project requires extra work, but you don’t want to take on more staff and the embedded costs of longterm staff. Consultants and outsourced expertise can help in a pinch.
4. A broad perspective on the world: Find trusted friends who aren’t caught up in your world-view and narrow problems and get their feedback.
What are some other benefits or risks of using consultants in the non-profit world? Let me know your thoughts.
David Curry