Hiring a Fourth Wheel: The Advantages of Hiring a Consultant
Believe it or not, with a little bit of balance, you can drive a car with three wheels. It’s not the most effective way to drive a car but the fourth wheel isn’t necessary if you have the right stability. I did it once with a golf cart in college… but that’s a tale for a different time. However, a fourth wheel can add stability for tumultuous roads and consistency for all your adventures — not to mention safety.
Similarly, many organizations can survive without the assistance of consultants; however, a consultant can serve as your organization’s “fourth wheel.”
While not completely necessary, an expert can amplify success, build capacity, and transform your organization into the high-end SUV it was always meant to be (metaphorically speaking, of course).
When pitching to prospective clients, I’m often asked, “why should we hire you?” Of course, I have standard answers to those questions, highlighting my skills, The Killoe Group’s experiences, and my team’s successes. Most consultants and agencies have their response to this question at the ready and while it provides some important context about the expert, the question that organizations should really ask is, “why should we hire a consultant?”
5 Reasons Your Organization Should Hire a Consultant
Industry Expertise
Any consultant worth their salt should know their stuff in and out. Good consultants stay current on industry best practices and trends within the field. While having that knowledge is important, the best consultants will work with you to apply that industry expertise to your specific organization based on your needs and goals.
Advisor
A great deal of my work includes listening to clients' situations and providing guidance and support. Oftentimes, I’m there to listen and really hear their pain points, challenges, and goals. Consultants who are willing to truly listen and advise are invaluable and can play an important role in helping your organization advance forward.
Candor
Whether it’s the Board of Directors or the Executive Director, everyone at an organization has a boss. There are often situations where people are hesitant to have honest conversations. In contrast, a good consultant can be more direct and candid while also being professional. Having a strong advocate is important.
Focus
As a consultant whose work focuses on fundraising, I find that fundraising often isn’t treated as the priority that it actually is. When you invest in a consultant, both parties make a commitment to be focused on the particular areas you are seeking help with, typically these are the areas in which you need the most guidance and support.
Commitment
Oddly, one of the advantages I’ve regularly cited is length of commitment. It’s often more financially feasible to bring on a consultant as a 1099 contractor with a clear set of expectations and a timeline to complete those expectations. This not only decreases the commitment required but also can help organizations save on expenses like salaries, benefits, and insurance.
The Killoe Group has worked with several non-profit organizations to strategize for future growth. To learn more about these services, contact us.
About the author
Michael J. Buckley, CFRE is a career fundraising professional and Founder and Managing Partner of The Killoe Group. His firm assists nonprofit organizations increase revenue, exposure and capacity through smart, data driven, successive decisions and effective planning. Mike’s experience and passion for the profession of fundraising have made him a sought-after speaker, consultant and presenter. The Killoe Group’s broad experiences include annual campaign audits and management, capital campaign leadership, feasibility studies, interim program leadership, board governance, strategic planning and capacity building.