Can Consultants deliver results without ever being on-site?
In short, yes
If we look at one definition of a Consultant, that being a person who provides professional or expert advice in a particular field of business to an organisation, then there is no reason why this can’t be done 100% off-site.
If we also consider that much of how a Consultant engages is through conversations, analysis, research and application of expertise to a particular problem, all of this can be done from any location using readily available tools.
The one major benefit of a Consultant being on-site is being able to get a ‘feel’ for the culture of an organisation and being able to (physically) follow leads to fully uncover and understand a particular problem. I have certainly experienced occasions where I have been engaged to look at one specific problem, only to find through water-cooler-type conversations, that the real problem is something and somewhere completely different. If we recognise this gap though, plans can be made to plug it.
We are very fortunate that many of our customers make extensive use of technology to manage their businesses day-to-day, so moving from meeting face-to-face to meeting via video-conferencing, for example, has not represented a significant transition or barrier to continuing our engagement with them.
If you were wondering what free tools we use to work 100% off-site with our customers, here’s a list of the most frequently used: –
- Calendly – provides easy access for customers to schedule time in our calendars.
- Zoom – for videoconferencing and easy screen-sharing.
- Slack or WhatsApp – for those occasions where a quick exchange of messages will suffice.
- Trello – action recording, tracking and progressing.
Phil has been working with my team at Nightingale for over a year, helping us to grow by providing practical, hands-on help around operations and HR issues as well as advice, support, mentoring and coaching. He is approachable, friendly and knowledgeable and has always known how to steer us in the right direction when we come across something we're not sure about. I'd highly recommend him for any business owner who's looking to significantly up their game with regard to the efficiency and functioning of their business - Phil has saved us a lot of time and effort around setting up effective processes, ensuring that when we're ready to take the next step in progressing the business, we're ready to go and no key details get forgotten. He has served on our advisory board since the start of 2023, providing contacts, advice, accountability and ideas to support our growth.
Phil's worked with us over the past few years as COO and really helped us to refine our business strategy and operations. He's taken on the tasks that our essential to a business, and made sure our legal, HR and strategies are in place to allow us to progress with building our business. I'd recommend Phil to anyone out there looking for a COO, a mentor or more simply, to take care of the basics that allow you to grow and run a successful business.
Phil is a great operational specialist and leader; he questions the norm and is constantly looking to improve any business he is involved in. He has great leadership skills that mean his teams are well motivated and constantly striving to deliver challenging goals and objectives.
Myself and the wider team at Easy R&D Limited, had the pleasure of working closely with Phil Webster in the second half of 2023 and I can say without hesitation that he is one of the most effective and incisive professionals I have ever had the pleasure of working with.
Phil has the rare ability to listen, understand and act, which he used to great effect in his role as Fractional COO at Easy R&D. Phil's brief was to prioritise those business areas which would enable us to focus more on Business Development activities.
Overall, I would highly recommend Phil Webster where Operational support is thought to be needed. Phil is a talented and dedicated professional with a great attitude and an exceptional work ethic. Any team or organisation would be lucky to have him on board.
Phil is a standout operator in his field. He's wise, pragmatic and a strategic thinker who constantly adds value to CEOs who are looking to develop, grow or re-evaluate their business strategy and operations. Phil's greatest strength is his ability to bring together all the disparate parts that make up business strategy. I'd highly recommend him to any business leader who's looking for wise counsel with a sprinkle of humour and smart thinking.
Phil is an extremely intelligent, motivated and high performing individual who would make a great addition to any team or organisation. We have the pleasure of having Phil work with us on a range of issues, where he has demonstrated an ability to solve problems which has helped us drive forward with great efficiency. I would recommend Phil to anyone looking to bolster their team and take their company to the next level. He is a truly exceptional person, with a head full of great ideas!
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