Hiring Consultants For Organizational Change Management

BY: Abbey Pint

Organizational change management is a complex process. Without an appropriate, proven process, it can be confusing, stressful and challenging for all involved. Rather than undertaking the difficult task on your own, hiring consultants for organizational change management can be very beneficial to you and your company. A consultant will help you navigate this process in an efficient and favorable way.

What is organizational change management?

Organizational change management (OCM) is a strategic and operational process for managing change within an organization. If it’s done well, it involves the implementation of new strategies, processes, and procedures in a way that minimizes resistance and maximizes adoption. OCM is a dynamic process that evolves over time to meet changing needs.

Why hire a consultant?

The benefits of hiring a consultant are many, but they can be summed up in one word: focus. A consultant will bring their expertise to the table and help you identify what needs to change and why, as well as how best to implement those changes. They can also provide insight into how other organizations have handled similar situations, which can give you ideas for your own organizational change project, if it’s similar enough.

We strongly recommend you set aside time with your team members so that everyone understands the purpose of the OCM project and role of outside support before bringing in an OCM consultant or coach. This will help them feel more comfortable working with this person or team upon arrival.

How do I get started?

You should begin by identifying the problem you are trying to solve. This can be as simple as “I need more employees” or “my employees are not performing well.” Once you know what needs fixing, find a consultant that fits your needs and define the problem before looking for solutions. After all, Albert Einstein once said, “The formulation of a problem is often more essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill.”

Once you’ve identified your problem statement, focus on setting some high-level goals. It’s important to set goals before starting any project so that everyone knows what they’re working toward – and if those goals change along the way, then make sure everyone knows about it too! Once a consultant comes in, they can help you expand on your goals and determine the best way forward.

When the stakes are high, you need the right people, tools, and resources for the job.

When it comes to OCM, your organization’s success relies on finding the right people, tools, and resources to help you get there. The benefit of employing consultants to support your OCM project is they can make recommendations on people, tools, and resources because they’ve been through this process before. For example, they can provide insight into what qualities make up a successful OCM Project Manager, or recommend software or exercises to help you meet your goals.

Hiring a consultant may be your best move.

Hiring a consultant can be a great choice for many companies. Consultants can assess your situation, bring in new perspectives, help you see the big picture, stay on track, and manage conflicts (even on your behalf). Consultants are known for having valuable experience and bringing creativity and innovation to new environments. Utilizing the knowledge of a trained and experienced organizational change management expert is often the best way to develop and implement a successful plan of action.

Another benefit of hiring an outside professional includes avoiding internal politics. You may want an objective opinion from someone who has no stake in the matter or who doesn’t have to report directly back to you or others within your company. Furthermore, consultants will likely give you a quicker turnaround time. It takes time for employees (and even managers) who are already busy with other responsibilities to come up with solutions on their own. Hiring someone else frees them up so they can focus on what’s important – their jobs!

Outside expertise can bring you great value.

While undergoing OCM, many companies struggle to figure out the best way to incorporate change into their culture and handle the individuals who will be impacted by it. It’s a process that requires consistent execution and oversight. Proper implementation is essential as it can increase employee engagement and decrease turnover. The end result of successful process implementation can help an organization achieve its goals and provide greater value to customers through improved productivity, efficiency, and profitability.

OCM is not something to be taken lightly. If you’re ready to get started on your own project or want more information about how we can help, please contact OGx today.