How to Choose the Right Recovery Consultant for the Job
Some projects do go off the rails. It would be nice if they didn’t, but, sometimes a confluence of factors makes it very difficult to complete a project according to plan. Since millions of dollars are at stake, as well as the long-term sustainability of the company, it becomes necessary to bring in a project recovery consultant to help turn a project around. How do you choose the right person for the job?
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It is important to take a multifaceted approach when looking at a project consultant. Here are some areas to look at:
Education and Credentials. Where were they trained? Do they hold professional credentials? Are they a PMP (Project Management Professional) and/or a CMC (Certified Management Consultant)?
Experience. Does this person have good general experience managing projects in your industry or field? Do they have business experience? Do they understand business issues and drivers under which your business is working? Beyond this, look at how effectively they can articulate this experience and how that experience can help you, as the client, solve your issue or problem.
Cultural Fit. Education and experience are the table stakes. The consultant needs something even more crucial: cultural fit. In a company full of type A personalities, for instance, can this consultant deal with the pressure and micromanaging? What if your organization is heavily siloed? Can they handle the politics? Can they work with various individuals and create a unified approach that moves the project and company forward? How are they going to fit in and mesh with the team?
Communication and Management Styles. Are they collaborative? Do they encourage participation or top-down decision-making? Ideally, a consultant adapts their style to suit the particular situation.
Many times, we get hung up on specifics. Does this consultant have experience with SharePoint or with SimCorp? But a lot of very good consultants do not necessarily have detailed knowledge of a specific application. What they should have is the ability to take knowledge from a variety of experiences, engagements, and business situations in order to lead the client to a successful conclusion. Experience with a specific application is an important consideration; however, you need to look at the big picture. Does this person demonstrate the overall project recovery experience and associated track record?
