The Manager's Pocket Guide to Using Consultants

Managing the Day-to-Day Relationship

The relationship between the consultant and the manager is a partnership: You bring subject matter expertise and he or she brings consulting or process expertise. However, the manager’s main role is to make sure that the consultant follows the agreedupon work plan and provides a satisfactory level of quality.

The manager must also address issues that the consultant raises when preparing and implementing the work plan. While there is no single good strategy for managing consultants, here are some good recommendations.

The Client-Consultant Relationship

Use these guidelines to create a solid and effective manager-consultant relationship:

1.   Set realistic time frames for deliverables.

2.   Maintain an active ...