What is a consultant? ___A consultant is an individual (or, sometimes, a group or organization) that brings experience and expertise about an issue or process to an initiative, organization, group, government entity, or community. A consultant may provide: ___Knowledge of an issue. ___Knowledge of a process. ___Specific skills. ___Objectivity. Why might you seek a consultant? ___To solve a problem you can’t solve on your own. ___To facilitate a process. ___To bring specific knowledge or theory to your work. ___To borrow skills your organization doesn’t have. ___To carry out a specific, often time-limited task. ___To mediate a dispute or a difficult situation. ___To bring a fresh, unbiased perspective to the organization. When might you seek a consultant? ___When you’re about to start something new. ___When you’re in a transition period. ___When there’s a serious problem. ___When there’s a need for more organizational structure, but you don’t know how to go about planning for or implementing it. ___When you don’t have the in-house capacity to perform a necessary task or process. ___When you need an outside evaluator. Whom might you ask to be a consultant? ___Professional consultants ___Academics and researchers ___Former public officials ___Current or former staff or directors of organizations that deal with your issue ___People with specific professional skills ___People affected by the issue you’re working with ___People with specific cultural expertise How do you choose a consultant? ___Define clearly what you want done. ___Determine the skills and knowledge the consultant will need to do the job. ___Determine the personal characteristics the consultant will need to work well with your organization. ___Determine what you can afford. ___Recruit candidates. ___Screen, interview, and choose among applicants. ___Evaluate the consultant’s work and its results.
