Five Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Consultant

Most bad consulting engagements could have been prevented with five questions asked before signing anything.

1. What specific outcome will you deliver, and how will we measure it? Vague deliverables are the number-one source of disputes.

2. Who specifically will do the work? Senior consultants often sell work that junior staff deliver.

3. What access do you need from our team? A good consultant should be honest about the time they will require from your people.

4. What references can you provide — specifically from similar engagements? Ask to speak directly to past clients.

5. What happens if the project scope changes? Understand the change management process before you start, not after.