Some of the mystery surrounding our industry is exactly why clients need consultants to come in from outside to enact change. In her “So You Want to be a Consultant?” workshop, Kasie explains the reasons an organization might find it needs outside help.
Here’s an excerpt:
Businesses engage consultants to work problems that are peripheral to the company’s primary activities. To warrant a consultant engagement, the problem must be specific, urgent, persistent, expensive, and recognizable -- or “S.U.P.E.R.” -- to borrow an acronym from Angelique Rewers of TheCorporateAgent.com.
Specific means there is a finite problem statement; there is clarity around what needs to be addressed, such that you can define a scope of work to solve the problem.
Urgent means that the organization struggles to fulfill its mission while the problem exists.
Persistent means the problem occurs frequently, disruptively, and derails other mission-critical activities.
Expensive means the problem is costing the organization in resources or money sufficiently that the organization is willing to invest in solving it.
Finally, Recognizable means the problem is KNOWN to the organization. Stakeholders are aware of it and are willing to participate in the solution process.
The problem is relevant to the company’s mission, but not able to be solved with existing resources. Or, solving the problem has been attempted and the organization’s internal politics have prevented lasting resolution.
Think your company has one of those S.U.P.E.R. problems? Consider hiring a CRC affiliate consultant to solve it.
Think you have what it takes to diagnose and solve S.U.P.E.R. problems? Consider enrolling in CRC Academy and becoming certified in The R.O.A.D. Methodology.