Sustaining Success After the Consultants Leave

October 10, 2023 | by Tim Mason

Imagine your company’s operations are a tangled mess. Then, a team of expert consultants comes in and works their magic. They analyze the problems, identify and eliminate wasteful practices, and implement new, streamlined processes. With the new processes in place, things seem to be moving forward without a hitch.

But here’s the harsh reality: operational changes, no matter how brilliant, tend to degrade over time. It’s not anyone’s fault; it’s simply the way things go.

People change, knowledge fades, new faces join the organization, and processes evolve. Eventually, you’re back to square one, and you need consultants again. The result? A critical point where damage is done to your bottom line, company safety, and reputation, forcing you to summon another consultant team to start the cycle all over again.

So, how can you prevent this cycle of improvement and degradation? The answer lies in building a sustainable framework for lean operations and making it an intrinsic part of your company culture. 

Here’s what that looks like:

1. Small, Steady Improvements Over Big Changes

Instead of massive overhauls that disrupt everything, go for a “sawtooth” approach–small, steady improvements as a function of the basic organizational rhythm. Big changes cost a lot, take time, and can upset your team. Smaller tweaks are easier to handle.

2. Watch the Numbers (KPIs)

Keep an eye on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). They’re like your dashboard. If you see something off, you can adjust quickly. It’s like driving a car and making little course corrections to stay on the road.

3. Lean Team Inside

Create a team within your company focused on keeping things lean. You probably have a quality or safety team dedicated to overseeing these initiatives across the company. Same thing, but with waste elimination. These folks are your experts in maintaining the improvements. Think of them as your “efficiency crew.”

4. Backup from the Outside

Sometimes, your in-house team needs help. Keep a lifeline to external experts who can jump in when things get tricky. They bring fresh ideas and experience.

5. Make Your Team Part of the Solution

When you make changes, involve your employees. Show them how the changes will make their work better. Happy employees are more likely to support changes.

6. Understand Human Nature

People like improvement but hate change. It’s a bit of a puzzle. Recognize this and balance the two. Keep pushing for better while making sure folks feel comfortable.

Consultants can be a crucial part of your company’s success. But if you’re at the point where you depend on them for everything, where the rhythm of your business is measured by repeated catastrophes followed by consultancy teams coming in to make major changes before everything slowly falls apart again, that’s not the blueprint for success. 

Instead, build a culture where continuous improvement is part of your DNA. This way, you’ll keep your gains, avoid the cycle of improvement and backslide, and keep your company running like a well-oiled machine.