One of the questions we ask clients when we start any project is why did you choose to work with us? The resounding answer we get back every time is that Innecto consultants give their clients confidence – confidence that we know what we are talking about, confidence we will get the job done and as importantly, confidence that they will learn & enjoy working with us. With a NPS of over 95%, we are confident we are getting it right!
Many of our clients run multiple projects alongside the typical Reward workstreams we are involved in – for example managing a wider business transformation or redefining culture & values. As a client this can often be a daunting proposition to ensure that interdependencies between projects are managed effectively. This is where an internal programme manager can make all the difference, co-ordinating workstreams, priorities, conflicts and risks. For Innecto, as external consultants, having an internal project driver is key to any reward project success. It ensures that there is a go to person on both sides managing internal stakeholders and aware of potential challenges to delivery, for example - critical internal deliverables. When we start a project, we typically work with clients to establish a heat map, identifying which stakeholders need to be involved and what internal challenges will potentially throw the project off course.
As consultants we are experienced at working with multiple partners on a project, sometimes this is through client selection, or one of our choosing who can provide expertise that we don’t have. For example, we recently partnered with a benefit broker who assessed a client’s current pension provision whilst we conducted pay benchmarking. Many organisations feel that having one consultancy who can do everything is the best way to go to ensure optimal delivery, and in many cases this assumption might be the correct. However, this isn’t always the case, by working with multiple consultancies, you will be leveraging individual specialisms which provide the exact outcomes your organisation needs. Each partner has a specialism or expertise that will give you enhanced, flexible and properly considered deliverables for your project. We have seen examples of clients having to unpick a job evaluation approach that has become too complex or repeat pay benchmarking because the supplier chosen for one aspect of a reward agenda has selected other services that did not provide the optimal solution for the business’s needs.
We have many partners we work with in the benefits, legal, tax, communications, and talent space that complement our offer and extend our capability to match that of larger consultancies. Our preferred approach to working is one of openness and honesty – without it, mixed messages are more likely and there is an increased risk that the final outcome is not joined up. Collaborative working is absolutely key to any partnership arrangements to ensure the best outcome for the business. Egos are left outside!
Top tips for working with multiple consultancies at the same time:
- Over Communicate – it is critical everyone is on the same page in terms of scope and deliverables. Setting up combined workstream meetings will ensure everyone hears latest updates, shares findings and create a joined-up output. When working on a reward transformation project with one client post M&A, who were also changing pension and undergoing an organizational re-design, having short weekly meetings ensured that a cohesive strategy was developed, informed by the outcomes of other workstreams.
- Create a project owner who has time to manage external suppliers – often one of the biggest challenges is that internal project owners are also trying to do the day job. Depending on the size and scale of the project, doing the day-to-day work whilst trying to manage a significant business change programme is extremely difficult and risky. Set yourself up to succeed by establishing a programme manager or project lead who has the time to ensure key milestones are set and managed.
- Learn from the best – working with multiple consultancies at the same time can be very rewarding as an in-house professional because you can explore different perspectives at the same time. A good partner will share their experience and learning with you to avoid any pitfalls during implementation and coach you to manage the outcomes internally.
In summary, if you are considering working with external consultants, think about what approach will deliver the best business outcome, who you feel you can best work with and who fits closest to your organizational values & culture. Don’t fall into the trap that just because one element of a proposition fits, that all services or products provided will be relevant or fit for purpose. At Innecto we pride ourselves on our flexible and collaborative approach to partnership working.
If you haven’t worked with us yet – what’s stopping you?? Get in touch today.
