Meyer Foundation: Lessons learned from hiring consultants

The Humanitarian Relief blog pointed out to the following article on the lessons learned when it comes to hiring consultants. Richard Moyers identified three main complaints about the work consultants delivered:

• the consultant didn't understand us
• the consultant was too busy
• the consultant was too directive/not directive enough

Some of Moyer's suggestions for nonprofit organisations is to spend more time verifying whether the consultant is the best fit for the job. Helpful questions in this process include:

• Have you worked with an organization like ours before?
• Have you done a project like this before?
• How many other clients and projects will you be handling while you're working with us?
• How much board and staff time will it take to support your work?
• Do you view yourself as a neutral facilitator, a guide, or a participant in the project?