But how can consulting make my business more profitable? To answer this question, it is necessary to know what the difference between a consultant and an employee of the company is.
The main differences are the type of contract and the cost of the contract, although they are not limited to that.
A consultant is hired for a “short” and well-defined period of time, specifically to help in a project, it can be for the whole project or only for a stage of it and can be renegotiated during the project. On the other hand, the company’s employee has a long-term contract for dedication.
The cost of a consultant is generally higher than that of a company employee, based on the periodicity of the contract, the consultant’s expertise, and the contribution he/she is expected to make with his/her inclusion.
But how can a person external to the company, with a higher cost, generate profitability and sustainability to a business? There are two sides to consider when answering this question: that of the company employing the resource and that of the consulting company or person.
It is somewhat obvious that for the company or person providing the consulting service, profitability and sustainability may seem to be a given. This is true only if the service provided is of quality and exceeds the client’s expectations, thus achieving continuation or future hiring. If the service provided is excellent, the time a consultant is without assignment will be short.
On the employer’s side, it seems totally the opposite, but it is not. When a company decides to hire consultants is to fill a gap in a project, seeking to achieve the desired success of the same or more. It is precisely the contributions made by the consultant that will make the difference.
The employer company will have well-defined expectations, such as that the consultant has experience in the type of work for which he/she was hired, but he/she will also come to provide different points of view, techniques, and solutions, added values that will be even more noticeable when the project is completed.
When the need is not a lack in one area of the project, but rather in the lack of resources to complete it, the consultant’s contribution can be more lasting, since the knowledge and techniques and even the attitude will be shared with the work team, contributing not only to the project for which he was hired, but for future projects of the company.
Additionally, the consultant can be seen as an auditor that allows to improve the internal process of the companies and their collaborators, as well as the exchange of vital knowledge for the evolution and development of both parties.
So how is a successful consulting process achieved in both cases? The key lies in the commitment of both parties; the consultant must always show a positive and dedicated attitude, with the desire to share his knowledge and skills with the work team. On the other hand, the contracting company must provide a comfortable environment, where the spaces for opinion, research and learning are open. That the desire to collaborate mutually is the axis of the working relationship.
References:
How is a “Software Developer” different from a “Software Consultant”.
