When a company identifies a problem they can’t solve, they need advice on how to effectively redesign processes or how to work through critical organizational changes they will often hire a consulting firm. Consulting firms have experts in multiple fields, processes and procedures and their job is to observe a company’s operations, collect and study performance data analytics, and provide them a comprehensive plan on best practices and procedures to improve or change.
Based on this definition, a consulting firm needs to function at an extremely high level, with solid knowledge and an experienced team to gain organizations’ trust in advisory and implementation services. A consulting team has to have the confidence, presentation presence and strong salesmanship and leadership skills to successfully deliver the problems, the identified data behind it, the various possible solutions and the final compelling argument on what, how, when and cost of the strategy designed for the client.
In today’s pandemic world, finding a virtual and dynamic way to deliver the problem and strategy, work with the stakeholders of the project, collaborate on organizational changes and engage the team in training to ensure buy in can be challenging. Virtual solutions that incorporate inclusion, engagement, ownership and project-based activities can provide consulting teams with a powerful tool when working with clients.
Given the unexpected increase in COVID-19, especially in light of the more deadly and contagious Delta variant, consulting teams need to depend on technology to collaborate and engage their clients in continual strategy and development sessions as they restructure and revise data and processes.
According to CB Insights, a private business performance analytics platform that provides market intelligence on private companies and investor activities, consultancy firms are among the industries that are most vulnerable to disruption right now, in part because they have been slow to adopt new technology.
Using the right virtual technology is vital to successfully producing a presentation that engages the client and involves them in the strategic review and best practice recommendations. The key word is “right”. Web-conferencing systems create the infamous “death by PowerPoint syndrome” we’ve all experienced. These types of solutions with a focus on PowerPoint presentations can cause the speaker to quickly lose the attention of the group because they are being talked at. Utilizing technology designed to engage and activate collaboration quickly involves the client in the review and strategic processes.
Being able to review different information, in different formats simultaneously reflects a dynamic review and incorporates how teams can effectively collaborate virtually to incorporate new strategies and processes. Allowing the client to individually review strategy and best practice details while the facilitator is reviewing identified challenges gets them involved and invested.
Utilizing customizable small group rooms that lets you define which teams, within the client structure, needs to review and discuss specific details can reduce the tedium of everyone listening to information that’s not relevant to them. These specialized small group rooms can house predefined data and tools to optimize the knowledge and skills of the client’s teams, so the consulting group focuses on all aspects of the project individually and then brings the corporate strategy together based on the small group recommendations or acceptance of the parts.
Virtual delivery of these projects is very cost and time effective. Even after we are past the COVID concerns, utilizing technology to virtually work, strategize, recommend and train your clients make great business sense.
