3 Top tips for getting the most out of your relationship with your HR Consultant

Three Top TipsHave you made the decision to work with an HR consultant to tackle people management issues within your business?  This could be an excellent choice, and a tactic that could really pave the way for sleeker and more efficient working practices in the future.  If you don’t have the resources at the current time to have your own in-house HR expertise, using the services of a contractor can offer the best of both worlds.  You get flexibility, affordability, and most importantly, results.

It’s important though that you understand what you can expect along the way, and how you can get the most out of the working relationship.  You’ll want to ensure that you get the best return possible on your investment, so it’s time to start planning and thinking about how you’ll get the outcome that you might be hoping for.

Read on to discover three top tips for success.

Be upfront and honest

If you know that there are problems within your business in terms of people management, this can be a difficult pill to swallow.  Perhaps you’ve let things slide in terms of key policies such as absence management and disciplinaries, or maybe you haven’t been giving your line managers the tools they need to excel in their roles.

Whether it’s minor or altogether more serious, be upfront with your HR consultant.  They can’t solve problems if they don’t have all the information!  Though they’ll unearth the issues after a little time getting to grips with your business, you’ll save time and money by being as honest as possible from the beginning – even if this feels a little uncomfortable!

Think beyond firefighting

Many people decide to bring in an HR consultant because they have a specific problem that needs to be dealt with right away.  That’s fine, but think about what this says about your people practices at the moment.  It’s likely that there’s some room for improvement.

Rather than using an HR consultant as a quick fix, consider how you can harness their expertise to sharpen your policies, procedures, and organisational culture so issues are less likely to arise in the future.  Using an HR contractor to fight fires is sometimes essential.  If you can look beyond this though, you could ensure your practices are in line with business goals, and that you’re using your people strategically.

Consider how you can create a longer-term relationship

Having an HR expert on your side can offer real peace of mind.  If you don’t want to recruit a permanent member of staff to take care of people management in your business, or you simply don’t have that level of need at the moment, consider working with a consultant on a retainer basis.

This will mean that you’re less likely to run into problems again in the future, and if you do, you’ll have someone on hand to help you to navigate your way through the process.  There are options available for most budgets, so be sure to check out what may be suitable for your needs.  Think about it this way – the next time you have an HR matter that you need assistance with, wouldn’t you prefer to have a professional on hand who’s already familiar with your business and the way you operate?

Savvy HR consultants can bring a lot to the table, and in many cases, can completely transform the way you run your business.  Be sure that you consider your role in the process though, and how you can get the very best possible results.

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