Be Your Own Consultant

Many businesses are too quick to contract consultants. Consultants certainly have their place, especially when certain technical expertise is not available on site and has the be sourced from elsewhere. However, there are many instances where you can save the high costs of using a consultant by using the resources that you already have.

Those resources are very often your own workers! If you do your own consulting with workers you may achieve very satisfactory outcomes that could catch the eye of your superiors and lead to a raise in salary or a promoton.

I learnt this lesson from an Occupational Hygienist [Let's call him Bob] who often worked as a consultant and was taking classes for people studying for Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. He related the following story in relation to a complaint regarding a section of a factory where workers were being subjected to excessive heat and managemnt hired Bob as a consultant to come up with a solution to the problem.

After introductions were made Bob was given free reign to make his inspections and inquiries. Bob was soon talking to Fred, the person who was most affected by the excessive heat and who had requested that something be done to alleviate the problem.

Bob asked Fred to describe the problem and how it affected him. He asked a number of questions of a general nature and then asked Fred what he thought would rectify the problem to his [Fred's] satisfaction. Fred suggested that a fan would probably suffice. Then Bob asked further questions such as, "What type of fan do you think would be best; a ceiling fan; an exhaust fan; an induction fan? Where should it be positioned? Would you like it to be a permanent fixture or one that can be repositioned if necessary? Should it be fixed or oscillating? What size do you think would be suitable? Is there anything else that you feel may be necessary?"

Having got the answers to these questions, Bob went to his office and wrote a detailed, convoluted report recommending that a 20 inch oscillating pedestal fan of commercial grade be purchased and placed at Fred's disposal to be positioned where he thought best. In addition, there was the need to provide two additional electrical power outlets at certain positions [Fred's suggestion] to enable the fan to be effective, depending on the process being undertaken at the time. The cost to the business for the fan and new outlets was quite low compared to what they expected. The largest cost was the consultancy fee. As a result:-

- The management of the business was satisfied and happy to have the matter resolved without any industrial unrest.
- Bob was happy as he received a hefty fee.
- Fred was happy because got the relief that he wanted and felt that management had acted in his interest. Fred could no longer complain as he had an input to, and a cosiderable amount of ownership of, the outcome.

Note that if the same solution had been thrust upon Fred without consulting him, he may have found reason to fault it. [Who can complain about their own recommendation being implemented?]

The lesson is that management could have achieved the same outcome without resorting to a consultant.

Similarly, where there is a production problem, or similar, it may be wise to seek suggestions from workers. Often their knowledge of the process, along with their experience with machinery, products, materials etc. make them the ideal people to come up with practical, innovative, resourceful, and cost-effective solutions. Whilst they may respond to you gleaning suggestions from them, they may clam up should a consultant do the same. They may develop the attitude of, "If management had asked me I would have shown them an easy way to fix things. Obviously they do not appreciate my input. So let's see what this smart ass consultant comes up with. I shall probably resist his solution on principle, no matter how good it is."

Do yourself a favor and improve you promotion prospects by doing your own consulting and involving your greatest assets, your workers. Remember though to recognise the input of the workers and reward them somehow. This paves the way for better relationships and more co-operation when needed in the future.