Why Businesses Should Use Senior IT Consultants to Transform Their Companies
In today’s fast-evolving technological landscape, businesses must be agile, innovative, and capable of implementing change swiftly.
“Senior IT consultants play a pivotal role in enabling this transformation. From my observations companies are so often guilty of falling into a lazy way of managing recruitment with Applicant Tracking System software (ATS).” Comments Craig Ashmole, from Straightalking Limited. “I fully understand ATS can be tweaked to focus on skills, but one should never forget actual lived experience is a huge value”.
Below, I explore why businesses should be reaching out and engaging seasoned external consultants to drive technological and operational changes.
- What External Interim Consultants Bring to the Table
Senior IT consultants provide an objective, fresh perspective that is essential for companies looking to overcome stagnation or operational inefficiencies. By analysing challenges without being entrenched in day-to-day operations, consultants can identify gaps, streamline processes, and introduce new technologies that internal teams might overlook. Their expertise in delivering complex solutions ensures the company can address pressing issues quickly and effectively. Interim consultants also bring high-level leadership skills, enabling the smooth execution of transformation projects that require swift and decisive action.
- Interim Consultants Knowledge Growth from Different Organisations
Interim consultants accumulate vast experience by working with multiple organisations across various sectors. This breadth of knowledge allows them to draw on best practices, innovations, and lessons learned from different industries. By leveraging this cross-industry experience, they can offer creative solutions tailored to the unique needs of each business. Their ability to adapt and customise strategies to fit specific corporate cultures and challenges enables them to guide businesses in ways that internal teams, often focused on singular methodologies, may not be able to.
- How Consultants Work Around Internal Company People Politics
One of the significant advantages of hiring an interim consultant is their independence from internal office politics. Senior IT consultants are hired with a clear, result-oriented mandate and are less likely to be influenced by interdepartmental conflicts or power struggles. They have the autonomy to assess situations objectively and make unbiased recommendations. This detachment enables them to focus solely on the business outcomes without being drawn into internal conflicts, making them effective in navigating political complexities and pushing forward necessary changes. There are times where concerns are raised from employees that might be younger than interim consultants, interims are not a threat, employees can learn from interim consultants and then they move on to the next engagement.
- Overall Business Benefits for Using a Non-Employee Consultant
Bringing in an external consultant offers several strategic advantages. First, businesses gain access to highly specialised skills without the long-term commitment or overhead costs associated with permanent hires. Interim consultants also offer greater flexibility, allowing companies to scale up or down based on project needs. Additionally, as non-employees, consultants bring an outside view that helps organisations avoid “groupthink” and opens doors to innovative, out-of-the-box solutions. They are also able to challenge the status quo more freely, driving transformation initiatives that may be resisted internally.
- Leveraging the Hard Earned Experience and Maturity in Older Consultants
Hiring senior consultants who are often much older than the typical employees bring invaluable benefits rooted in experience and maturity. These consultants possess decades of practical, hands-on knowledge from working across multiple industries and economic cycles. Their ability to foresee potential challenges and make informed decisions based on past experiences allows them to provide insights that younger employees may lack. Additionally, their calm, measured approach helps mitigate risks, guide complex projects, and mentor younger teams, fostering growth and resilience within the organisation.
In Summary
Senior IT consultants are vital assets for companies looking to transform their operations. With the ability to offer an impartial view, expert knowledge from various industries, and a talent for navigating internal politics, they are uniquely positioned to lead critical change initiatives.
“Their flexibility, combined with their independence from long-term commitments, ensures that businesses benefit from innovative strategies and efficient project delivery. For organisations aiming to remain competitive in a fast-changing world, hiring senior IT consultants is a sound investment in their future success.” confirms Craig Ashmole.
I often say, “Hire the old guy!” as the lessons learned and hard earned experience is not something that you can just learn in a classroom.
By Craig Ashmole, Straightalking Limited
Having spent the majority of my career working with and supporting the Corporate CIO Function, I now seek to provide a forum whereby CIOs or IT Directors can learn from the experience of others to address the burning need to change the way we all work post the COVID Pandemic.
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