Question: “So… what DO you do as a small business consultant?”
This is asked often. Simply stated, I uncover the root cause of problems, provide information and assist with making better use of the relevant information on hand. Then I make a diagnosis, recommend and assist with implementing action plans.
The three most common reasons why businesses turn to consultants for help:
To find the problems – get to the cause of a decrease in sales, cash-flow issues, and employee turnover to name a few.
To create the solution – in order make your business goals you must have a plan to reach them.
Processes and Procedures - get a fresh perspective, evaluate all areas of your business and increase productivity levels.
Sounds simple enough right? Not always. As entrepreneurs / managers, we tend to be ambivalent about our need for help with our most important problems. The biggest problem I face as a consultant is getting the client past the blame game (who did what, when and why) and actually getting the client to work on correcting the problem. Often a diagnosis or root cause of the business owner’s problem strains the consultant-client relationship because owners / managers are often fearful of uncovering difficult situations for which they might be blamed. While it does take courage to take the necessary steps to correct a wrong, my role is to help develop the diagnosis with the client and assist with implementing strategies - taking baby steps and then holding them accountable.
After all, if I don’t help in some way, I didn’t do my job.
To your continued success,
Tiana R Key
Plan.Commit.MoveForward
M 708.870.5518
Keysolutions4u@outlook.com
www.keyidealsolutions.com
