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When confronted with important issues related to strategy, management development, or improving productivity, companies often wonder how the consulting process works.

This process has several steps, all geared toward significantly improving the client's situation.

The first step: a meeting of the company and the consultant to discuss the company's situation. During this meeting, the consultant asks many questions, but also spends a lot of time listening to the company's view of the situation. This meeting, which is at no cost to the company, usually lasts around 60 to 90 minutes, although the meeting can last several hours, depending on the company's situation. This meeting may also include a brief tour of the company's operation, to give the consultant a better feel for what is happening. During this meeting, the consultant will describe how he or she would approach the situation to improve it significantly.

At the end of the meeting, the company and the consultant decide whether they are comfortable with each other. In particular, the company has to decide whether the consultant's approach is appropriate for the situation.

If the company and consultant agree that they are compatible, they move to the second step. The consultant submits a written proposal that includes:

• A summary of the client's situation
• A detailed description of the consultant's approach to improve the situation
• The specific actions the consultant will take
• The measurable outcomes, and the value that will result
• Information about cost and the timing of what the consultant will do

The third step of the process is the consultant's delivery of what is detailed in the proposal.

The fourth step involves any follow-up needed to ensure that the client's situation has been improved.

That's how the process works—to get it started, all you have to do is contact us.