No matter what stage or size of the company, your company culture has its complexities. Getting help with your culture can be one of the best decisions and investments you make to ensure your people and business are thriving.
what is a company culture consultant?
A company culture consultant is an individual or firm that helps organizations develop and maintain a positive company culture.
Company culture consultants might work with businesses to assess their current culture, identify areas for improvement, and develop and implement a culture development plan. They may also offer ongoing support and coaching to help clients sustain a positive company culture.
Culture consultants have specialized expertise in company culture that can provide objective perspectives, save you time, and provide customized solutions and a range of support methods to help you activate your culture initiatives and goals.
Company culture consultants typically have organizational behavior, people ops, and leadership expertise. They may use various methods and tools to help clients improve their culture, including assessments, focus groups, surveys, and other data-gathering techniques, as well as coaching, training, and other interactive methods.
Company culture consultants may work with many organizations, including small startups, large corporations, and everything in between. They may also specialize in particular industries or organizations, such as tech companies, nonprofits, or government agencies.
why work with a culture consultant
If you're experiencing any of the following:
- Low morale, high turnover, or other culture-related problems.
- A period of rapid growth or change, and you want to ensure your culture evolves positively.
- You want to improve your employer branding and attract top talent.
- You're trying to pivot or shift your business model and want to ensure your culture aligns with your new goals.
- You're looking to implement new values, mission statements, or other cultural elements.
- You want to create a more inclusive culture.
- You're a new startup and want to establish a strong company culture from the ground up.
how to find a culture consultant
Ask for referrals. Start by asking colleagues, industry partners, or other business contacts if they have recommendations for company culture consultants.
Search online. An online search can show you a range of companies that offer culture consulting. Type in "culture consultant" or "company culture help."
Use social media. You can also use platforms like LinkedIn to search for company culture consultants in your area. Many consultants have profiles where they share information about their services and expertise.
the benefits and risks
There are some risks that come with working with a culture consultant. It's important that you understand them before you engage.
the benefits
- Improved employee satisfaction. A positive company culture can lead to increased employee satisfaction, which can, in turn, improve retention and reduce turnover.
- Enhanced productivity. Employees who feel valued and supported are more likely to be motivated and engaged.
- Increased innovation. A culture that fosters creativity and encourages risk-taking can lead to increased innovation within the organization.
- Better employer branding. A positive company culture can improve the organization's reputation, making it more attractive to top talent.
- Improved customer satisfaction. Employees who feel supported are more likely to provide high-quality customer service.
- Enhanced company performance. Overall, a positive company culture can improve company performance, as it can drive engagement, productivity, and innovation.
the risks
- Cost. Working with a culture consultant is an investment, particularly if the organization is large or the scope of the project is extensive.
- Resistance to change. Some employees may resist changes to the company culture, particularly if they are used to the current culture or if the changes seem disruptive.
- Lack of buy-in. For a culture development plan to be successful, it's important that employees are on board. If key stakeholders aren't bought in, it may be challenging to implement the plan effectively.
- Limited impact. Culture change takes time. It may take several months or even years to see significant results. If expectations aren't realistic, or the root causes of culture-related problems aren't addressed, the impact of the work may be limited.
- Confidentiality concerns. Some organizations may be concerned about sharing sensitive information with a culture consultant. It's important to carefully review confidentiality agreements and ensure the company's information is protected.
questions to ask a culture consultant
Ask questions that are unique and specific to your company's situation and goals first and foremost. Here are a few to include in your conversation:
- What services do you offer?
- What is your approach to company culture consulting?
- What is your process for working with clients?
- Do you have experience working with companies in my industry?
- What are your fees for your services?
- Do you have any case studies or examples of past projects you can share with me?
- How do you measure the success of your work?
- Can you provide references or testimonials from past clients?
- How do you protect the confidentiality of your clients' personal and business information?
how to budget for culture work
The cost of hiring a company culture consultant can vary widely depending on several factors, including the size of the organization, the scope of the project, the level of expertise of the consultant, and the company's location.
It is important to have a clear understanding of your budget and to communicate it to potential consultants at the outset of the hiring process. When budgeting for culture work, it's essential to identify the goals, needs, and desired outcomes.
A helpful tip is to think about it as if you were bringing on another highly skilled person for a short period. Your actual budget will depend on the specific needs and resources of the company, so carefully consider your goals and priorities.
Need help designing your culture budget? Book a free culture conversation.
do's and don'ts
do
- Have a budget in mind or an understanding of the investment.
- List out your top three pain points and/or goals.
- Have a list of questions ready, and ask for a recap of your conversations.
- Give feedback, positive or negative.
don't
- Show up to your initial call unprepared.
- Ghost a culture consultant.
- Expect a quick fix or for the culture consultant to do all the work.
- Work with more than one culture consultant at a time.
getting started with a culture consultant
Once you've identified a need or a pattern within your culture that a culture consultant can help with, do some initial research and find at least three consultants to contact. During your search, you might find more. We recommend contacting your top three and saving the others for later in case someone doesn't get back to you or is booked.
Next, schedule a time with the consultants. The average initial conversation lasts anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. Add a 15-minute calendar buffer before and after your conversation.
Include anyone else who would benefit from an initial discussion. The best way to determine who should join is to identify their purpose or role in the conversation.
Show up on time. Everyone's time is precious and should be valued. If you are running late or need to reschedule, please let the culture consultant know. They understand that things come up and will be happy to reschedule. Avoid ghosting them if you can't make it or are no longer interested; let them know.
After the initial conversation, next steps are usually discussed. However, you might not be ready to make a decision at that time. Take some space and time to gather all the information each consultant has provided. Review it and include anyone else in the decision-making process. When making a decision, use both the data provided and your intuition.
Don't hire a culture consultant based on "fit"; you want someone who can add to the complex elements of your company and culture.
Seeking fit is limiting and often keeps companies in a comfort zone that only partially allows for the true evolution and transformation of the culture. In short, you've spent money on someone who just mimicked or matched the current energy of the culture.
Choose your culture consultant by emailing or calling them to let them know you'd like to work with them. If you decide not to move forward with a consultant, send them a note letting them know. Some might ask for feedback.
From there, your culture consultant can walk you through the process of getting started and onboarding.
Congratulations on finding your first company culture consultant and investing in your culture! May your company culture live long and prosper.
Charisse Fontes is the founder of Culture Circle and an Executive + People Ops Advisor to founders and leadership teams.
more about Culture Circle →first published by culture circle, jan 2023_
culturecircle.co · free to share · want help putting this to work? hello@culturecircle.co