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Some of these characteristics included: professionalism, knowledge, integrity, availability, reliability and several others. Selecting and hiring a consultant has never been an easy process or decision. The Productivity Institute, LLC, assists organizations in locating and retaining the best consultants. It frequently conducts industry surveys, both independently and in conjunction with The National Networker (TNNW).
Bruce Newman, Vice President at The Productivity Institute, LLC, of Carmel, New York is an expert in the areas of selecting consultants and improving productivity. The Company’s website is at www.prodinst.com.
In the survey, corporate respondents were asked to select the three consulting characteristics they deemed most important. Surprisingly, the most important characteristic selected by over 53% of the respondents was ‘excellent communication skills’, surpassing such traditionally predictable areas as ‘honesty’ and ‘technical knowledge’. “This represents a tremendous shift in priorities,”
The ability to work with others was the second most important consulting characteristic, having been selected by 45% of the respondents. What was most significant was that these two characteristics far outdistanced the third most important consulting characteristic selected: experience.
“Exceptional communication skills and the ability to work with others are essential to the success of almost every position or engagement, short-term or long-term,” states Bruce Newman. “These are both essential characteristics that you find in outstanding consultants who complete jobs and improve a company’s productivity. Just possessing the appropriate knowledge and experience is no longer adequate. This is quite a departure from the 80’s and early 90’s where social and interpersonal skills were hardly given any consideration in the selection of consultants. Technical expertise, by itself, is inadequate.
“The consultants most in demand are those who are skilled listeners, speakers and team players. For businesses to survive and to thrive in this oppressive economic environment, they are demanding consultants who can play more of a coordinating and leadership role.”
Note: any inquiries about the survey in this article or requests for reports should be sent via email to info@prodinst.com, or made by telephone to 845-228-1301.
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