Introduction: How to find a strategy consultant that suits you and will help your company move forward
A well-chosen strategy consultant can make a decisive difference to your company. But there are many consultants out there and time and again we see clients who have invested a lot of money in consulting projects but are not satisfied with the consultant’s work and the results. In this article, you will find out how to find a strategy consultant who suits you and your goals and is highly likely to “deliver” in the end. We highlight important criteria for the search and selection process and give you practical tips to help you make an informed decision. We also try to make you aware of common mistakes.
What you should consider before you get started
When choosing the right strategy consultant, it is crucial to first clearly define your own goals. Different consultants have different strengths and weaknesses, and not everyone is suitable for every business situation. A key qualification is the consultant’s entrepreneurial experience: has he already built up and successfully managed companies himself or “only” advised on them? This is essential for strategy projects in particular in order to have an understanding of what actually works in business practice and can also be implemented by your team, in addition to the slides. Personal fit is also important: the consultant should not only be professionally competent, but also compatible with you and your team on a personal and cultural level. Make sure that the strategy consultant does not just act as a project manager, delegating the actual technical development to other people, but actually performs the main consulting task in the project themselves and assures you of this.
It all depends on your goals: How to brief the strategy consultant correctly
Sharpening your goal definition is a crucial step before working with a strategy consultant. An effective briefing includes clear communication of your goals and expectations. Be transparent if you are unsure about certain points or need further preparation. For the briefing, be sure to have a detailed preliminary discussion before you commit to a contract to discuss your objectives in detail with the designated consultant.
Checklist for briefing your strategy consultant professionally
It is important that the consultant actively listens during this process, asks specific questions and contributes his or her own experience in order to concretize the objectives. A qualified consultant will not only agree but also disagree if necessary in order to formulate realistic and achievable goals. At the end of the briefing, they should reflect on what they have understood and explain how they can ensure that these goals are achieved. These steps ensure that both you and the consultant have a shared vision and a clear understanding of the project objectives.
In addition, it is very important that you consciously pay attention to how the strategy consultant addresses the specific needs and goals of your company. Make sure that the consultant tailors their proposal to your company and does not just present a standardized methodology. A customized approach that takes into account your unique challenges and opportunities is critical to the success of your strategy and reflects the consultant’s expertise and flexibility.
Modern toolset and methods: Tools for efficient work of the strategy consultant
The integration of modern toolsets and methods is not only crucial for the quality, but above all for the efficiency of the consulting work . Make sure that your strategy consultant not only has traditional analysis tools, but also uses modern technologies such as analytical AI to enable deeper insights and forecasts while always keeping an eye on the project effort. Equally important are collaboration tools that make it possible to work efficiently with several people on documents and share information remotely. These tools are particularly valuable for agile and flexible strategy development and implementation. In the following table, we provide you with some additional examples:
| Tool/criterion | Description |
|---|---|
| Data analysis software | Tools for analyzing large amounts of data for well-founded insights |
| Project management tools | Instruments for efficient planning and monitoring of projects |
| Creativity techniques | Methods for promoting innovative ideas and solutions |
| Benchmarking tools | Tools to compare your performance with industry standards |
| Risk management software | Systems for identifying and minimizing business risks |
| Analytical AI | Artificial intelligence for additional analyses and forecasts |
| Collaboration tools | Tools for collaborative work in meetings and on documents, including remotely |
| KPI Cockpit | Templates for the evaluation of relevant key figures throughout the project |
| Reporting Framework | Preparation of meaningful reports during strategy development and for implementation monitoring |
Support for successful strategy implementation
A comprehensive and dedicated strategy consultant supports your company not only in the development, but above all in the practical implementation and long-term pursuit of the corporate strategy. The development of a structured implementation plan plays a decisive role here. This breaks down the overarching strategy into specific sub-strategies that are tailored to individual areas of the company such as sales, marketing, product development, recruiting and other aspects. For example, a sales strategy may aim to open up new market segments, while a recruiting strategy focuses on attracting the best talent to your company. The effectiveness of each of these sub-strategies depends largely on their precise formulation and implementation.
To achieve this, it is essential that the consultant provides your team with appropriate guidance, support and guidance in the application of the strategies, rather than taking on the implementation entirely themselves. A key component of this is the integration of relevant specialized partners, such as management consultancies that offer expertise in specific areas such as finance, technology or human resources. Depending on your team’s needs and capacity, these partners can be brought in to optimize the implementation of the sub-strategies. Ideally, your strategy consultant has already worked with these partners in the past and can thus facilitate lean and smooth collaboration. This coordinated cooperation between relevant specialists ensures that your corporate strategy is not only theoretically sound, but also leads to success in an efficient and targeted manner in practice.
Transparent success monitoring by the strategy consultant: ensuring measurable success
Ongoing performance monitoring that you can track at all times is a key aspect of strategy implementation. It is essential that the strategy consultant works with you to define suitable key figures, which should already be determined during the development of the strategy. These key figures make it possible to precisely measure and track the progress and success of the strategy implementation. During the implementation phase, it is the consultant’s task to establish a suitable reporting system with your team. Regular review meetings offer the opportunity to evaluate the collected data, review progress, identify any deviations and adjust accordingly. This continuous monitoring and adjustment is crucial to ensure that the strategy is not only implemented but also achieves the desired results.
Long-term partnership: The strategy consultant’s commitment to your success
A professional strategy consultant attaches great importance to a long-term and trusting cooperation with you and your company, which is characterized by a high degree of reliability, open communication and entrepreneurial experience. You should pay attention to this. This is how you ensure that the strategy developed is not only theoretically sound, but can also be implemented in practice. A consultant who is personally committed to the successful and measurable implementation of the strategy will become a driving force behind your company’s success. Such a partnership goes beyond short-term projects and focuses on sustainable results and continuous improvement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right strategy consultant is an investment in the future of your company. A good consultant knows how to develop customized strategies that are practical to implement and geared towards your long-term success. They value a trusting, long-term partnership and are personally committed to the measurable implementation of your goals. Remember that choosing the right consultant can make the difference between a good idea and a successful realization.
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