The effective use of management consultants isn’t simply about making a financial commitment. It also requires a substantial commitment of time as keeping fully in touch with the progress of the assignment is vital if you are to get the most out of it.

Perhaps the single most important factor in ensuring a successful outcome is in preparing a good brief for the consultant. Working together, you should plan exactly what it is you’re hoping to achieve from having the consultant working in the heart of your business.

Having an agreed programme and timescale is equally important and also necessary for cost effectiveness. Regular progress meetings with the consultant will keep you fully briefed on how the programme is going and enable you to assess any adjustments that may be needed.

It will also be necessary to involve your management and staff in providing input whilst the consultant is carrying out investigative research into the business, and then when it comes to implementing his recommendations. This will enable staff to take ownership of the recommendations and have an interest in the results.

As a general rule consultants are usually most effective when the work is done on the client’s premises. This will mean providing suitable office space and administrative support for them.

The consultant’s final report (if it has been agreed that one will be produced) needs to be in a format that is beneficial to you and written in a way you and your staff can understand and use. If necessary, ask to see a draft report that you can discuss before it is finalised. Where any contentious or confidential issues are raised you might ask for these to be set out separately, rather than in the report itself.

Asking the consultant to help with implementation of the report may be considered additional work, so remember to get a written quotation of fees.