How to choose a consultant

This paper is based upon the guidance issued by the Institute of Management Consultancy (IMC) entitled ´How to Choose and Use Management Consultants´. These basic guidelines have been enhanced by the author´s own experience of selecting consultants and also of being selected. The ten `golden rules´ proposed by the IMC are discussed. These are: clearly define the objectives that you hope to achieve; consult with others in your organisation to agree those objectives; short-list no more than three consultants and ask them to provide written proposals; brief the consultants properly; see the individual consultant who will do the job and make sure that the `chemistry´ is right; ask for references from the chosen consultant(s) and follow them up; review and agree a written contract before the assignment starts; be involved and in touch during the assignment; ensure that the consultant does not save surprises for the final report; implement the recommendations and involve your management as well as the consultant