Leadership ConnectionsMay, 2017

Investing in Expertise: Working with consultants collaboratively and intentionally

Fran Simon, M.Ed.Chief Engagement Officer-------------Engagement StrategiesEarly Childhood Investigations Consultants Directory

A little about me…

Early Care and Education

B.A. & M.EdEarly Education

Child Care Administrator

15 years

Marketing & Tech Executive

ECE Curriculum Publishing

Engagement Executive

National ECE Association

Marketing & Biz Consultant to

ECE Sector NPOs & Companies

My personal mission is to connect Early Education

Objectives: Today you will…

• learn strategies to help you prepare for, identify, and hire consultants.

• explore your role in relationships with consultants to drive change.

• Explore resources that will set the stage for action in future relationships with consultants.

Assumptions: You are here because you…

•need expertise not currently available in your organization.

• are considering hiring a consultant. or are working with one now.

• are a consultant looking for ideas to help your clients use your services.

Agenda

• Ten tips for working with consultants from planning through after the engagement is complete

•Discussion throughout

•Questions

You are…

6

Empower yourself to take charge of the problems you are trying to solve and the relationships you need to solve them.

Prepareyourself & your organization

2.a. Primary contact

2.b. Find the right time to engage

2.c. Define your vision, change is coming

2.d. Develop a coherent and comprehensive Statement of

Work

2.e. Search for the right consultant,Check qualifications

Think out of the local-area box.

2.c. Continuous Improvement requires ongoing engagement but ultimate self-sufficiency

Get a detailed proposal

Be clear, expect clarity

Enter into a contract

Communicate with staff

Make the process iterative

5.a.

Provide access

YOU play a huge role

BE

Expect internal cooperation

Follow through, follow up

Pay on time

ResourcesStrategic Use of Consultants: A Guide for Head Start and Early Head Start Leaders, ECLKC, Head Start

Non-Profit Consultants: How to Choose them, How to Use Them, First5LA

Sample Request for Proposal (RFP), the Denver Foundation

Sample Interview Questions for Consultants, the Denver Foundation

How to Use Consultants, Lean Systems Institute

When to Use Consultants—and When Not to Bother, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

NFIB Archived Webinars

Why hire a consultant? The Denver Foundation

Questions?

Thank youFran Simon

Engagement Strategies, LLC.Fran@EngageStrat.com

Early Childhood InvestigationsEarlyChildhoodWebinars.com

ECEexperts.com

I call them like I see them…