Companies hire consultants to advise them on solving issues that a company is facing. However, consultants can cost a lot and therefore hiring the right consultant is vital to solving issues and ensuring that your money is spent wisely. Here are a few areas to consider.

Track record of success – It is a good idea to ask your consultant who they worked for and how successful they were in improving a company’s performance. Speak to your consultant about the issues they may have to handle in your company and ask them how they handled similar issues in other companies of your size.

An experienced team – Good quality consulting firms will only send through experienced consultants to pitch to senior management. Therefore, if your consulting firm sends through inexperienced consultants for interviews, it is best to look elsewhere.

Reasonable cost structure – The consultant you want, should come at the price that makes most financial sense for the firm. If you are looking for a more experienced consultant at a higher cost, they should be able to offer you results in a much shorter period.

Added value – A consultant who is a generalist, will offer creative solutions that will not be thought of internally.

Communication skills – Consultants and the consulting firm should be able to effectively listen to their clients and communicate in a language that matches the client’s culture and requirements.