9 Key Benefits of Hiring an Organizational Development Consultant
Is your organization living up to its full potential?
While the answer might be a little painful to admit, research shows that 70% of employees are currently cutting their abilities short.
The good news? It's never too late to turn the tides around.
An organizational development consultant (ODC) is trained to learn as much as possible about your company, recognize its areas of improvement, and help your workforce become both formidable and future-ready.
Are you considering hiring an ODC for your organization? If so, you're already ahead of the game. Read on to learn nine key benefits you can expect when you bring one on board.
WHAT DOES AN ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT DO?
There are many acronyms in the business world, and we just added ODC to your repertoire. Now, let's break down what this professional does and why the work is so important.
In short, an ODC can help any size company, from Fortune 500 enterprises to fledgling startups, recognize and grow into its full power. This expert is trained to evaluate current operations and suggest improvements on how to make them more productive and profitable.
A typical ODC is highly trained in business management, with vast experience in managerial roles. This makes them a valuable, reputable resource who can help redirect and reposition any team.
Next, let's review a few of the top reasons why it's smart to invest in this assistance today.
1. LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENT
An organizational development consultant isn't interested in flash-in-the-pan tactics. You won't learn steps that will put you back in the black for a few months, then leave your business in the red for the rest of the year.
Rather, an ODC will help your workforce create a long-term road map for continuous improvement and ongoing success. You'll learn concrete strategies that your team members can plan, implement, assess, improve and monitor as time goes by.
In many cases, this will include both internal and external change. Your company will learn how to adopt a future-focused perspective in all areas, from marketing to customer service.
2. IMPROVED COMMUNICATION
In a survey of 400 companies employing at least 100,000 people each, found that inefficient and inadequate communication costs each company, on average, $62.4 million per year.
This is one workplace dynamic that cannot be overstated. When employees don't know how to communicate with one another, these silos lead to detrimental consequences. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to reverse such a pattern once it begins.
Your ODC will walk you through the ways to improve team communication. You'll also learn how to give effective feedback and engage in organizational interaction.
Yet, the goal runs deeper than simply encouraging dialogue. Business managers will also learn how to use communication as a platform to align employees with shared company goals and visions.
This helps create a company culture that encourages transparency, openness and clear lines of contact.
When your employees understand that their voices are important and valuable to organizational success, they're more willing to speak up and suggest areas of change. They're also stronger and more influential brand advocates outside of the office.
3. ONGOING EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT
Research shows that only 20% of employees have the skills they need to succeed in their current role and future career.
Does your organization encourage and promote professional development opportunities? If not, it doesn't take long before even your best employees become disengaged.
One of the pillars of organizational development consulting is to give employees the confidence and ability to enact change within their organization. As the industry and market continue to propel forward, a capable workforce has never been more critical.
Your ODC consultant can help your company develop new ways to provide employee training and education. This can help increase departmental motivation and drive work process improvements.
4. INNOVATION THROUGH MOTIVATION
Your company's success hinges on its offerings. Your products and services might be premium now, but are they ready to ride the wave of innovation?
Those who cannot say "yes" with confidence could lose out to more inspired competitors.An ODC can identify the strongest parts of your current product line, as well as any weak areas that could impede future growth. Then, you'll learn the surprising way to make it better: increase employee engagement.
An ODC knows that you could have the greatest prototype in the world but unless your employees believe in it and are continuously working to improve it, your efforts could become fruitless.
To this end, you'll discover new ways to reward worker successes and boost team morale. The payoff? A more driven, creative workforce capable of unlimited growth.
5. MARKETPLACE ANALYSIS
Another important facet of organizational development is an in-depth approach to competitive analysis. Your ODC will help you take a closer look at your competitors' strengths and weaknesses to help strengthen your own brand position.
You can't navigate new, uncharted areas of success if you don't know which tactics your competitors are already employing. A consultant can help you take a closer look at what industry powerhouses are doing and suggest ways to capitalize on their strengths and avoid their weaknesses.
Along the way, you'll also dive deep into your target audience to discover your customers' expectations and preferences. You can use these valuable insights to develop products and services that are more likely to pique their interests, solve their issues and encourage repeat loyalty.
6. A CLEARER DIRECTION
When you're a business leader juggling numerous tasks at once, it can be difficult to keep a clear perspective of where your company is headed. This might mean missing important signs of inadequacy that could lead to disgruntled employees and dissatisfied customers alike.
Your consultant can serve as the unbiased third party you didn't know you needed. The process of working one-on-one with an ODC can be enlightening and clarifying, bringing to light issues and concerns that have been swept under the corporate rug for years.
As a result of this improved awareness, you'll be able to take new stands and develop new policies for the good of your organization. After all, a more informed and educated management team can make smarter and more advantageous decisions for its employees.
7. IMPROVED PROFITS
Of course, there's one major reason why you might seek the support of an organizational development consultant: to drive up your profits!
Maybe your sales numbers are where you need them to be and you just want a little boost to continue in the right direction. Or, perhaps you've noticed a steady pattern of decline and you need help turning it all around.
Either way, an ODC can help. This expert will help your company discover untapped methods of innovation and productivity that can open new doors of revenue and improve your bottom line. Another way this service can help you save?
Higher workplace morale results in lower numbers of employee absenteeism and turnover rates. The more productive, motivated and on-task your team members are, the greater their contributions to the organization as a whole.
Along the way, the higher your earning potential can climb. There's no limit to the success you can realize when everyone is on board and dedicated to your mission.
8. REDUCED WASTE
As you learn ways to earn more money, you'll also discover creative tactics to make the most use of your business budget. This usually includes taking a closer look at any expenses that are not mission-critical to your operations and finding ways to eliminate or lower them.
In many cases, this process will reveal areas of duplication or redundancy. For instance, you might discover that your marketing and sales teams are overlapping on a few administrative tasks that could be consolidated into one role.
Learning how to merge these duties can improve time management and reduce expenses at the same time.
9. IMPROVED TEAMWORK
Simply embarking on the task of hiring an organizational development consultant will speak volumes to your entire workforce. It reveals a dedication to the wellbeing of your employees, along with a commitment to make your business the most competitive it can be.
As a result of this outreach from upper management, employees often make the self-motivated decision to improve their own work ethic and productivity levels. They're also more likely to engage in teamwork and collaboration with their department colleagues.
In the event of a dispute or conflict, employees are also better equipped with the tools and resources they need to move past it. With improved morale comes a renewed sense of peace and purpose, and any lingering ill will is discouraged.
Recognize the Benefits of Hiring an ODC Today
Now that you know a few of the benefits of hiring an organizational development consultant, are you ready to discover more?
If so, let's connect.
We're growth-minded business consultants passionate about helping our clients recognize and surpass their potential. We'll work with you directly to help you find creative, dynamic and profitable ways to stand out in your space.
The secret to our success is in our name: We're moving companies forward, and we'd love to bring you on board. Contact us today to learn more and let's get started.
