How can you ensure your consulting services align with startup values?

Listening to their ideology, vision and passion is the key to gelling with them. Rather than giving feedback upfront, they shall be questioned well.

Coming from the Entrepreneur angle in a product, software and AI based company it's been almost unavoidable to engage consultants for specific projects. However, there is nothing I dislike more than riding a taxi without a clear destination especially in a start-up situation. It is in my view important that there is a clear value adding step with the engagement, with a deliverable (destination) where someone can ride along in the front seat (in-house developer, manager) to understand the path and handover, this since most value in a start-up sits in its people and assets. Both need to be retained in the company for the investors to realize it's value.

To make sure your consulting service works well with a startup, first get what they're all about. Know their goals, who they're trying to help, and what makes them special. Speak their language and show how you can help them do better, save money, or make their customers happier. Don't just tell them what to do; listen to their ideas and build solutions together. Always offer real value. Use your skills and connections to help them tackle problems and hit their targets. Please keep them in the loop with regular updates so they know you're on their side. By doing this, you'll fit right in with their values and help them succeed.

As a startup, it is imperative to ensure that your consulting services align with your company's values. This alignment is crucial for the success and sustainability of both your consulting practice as well as your startup. To achieve this alignment, there are a few key steps that you can take. Firstly, it is essential to clearly define your startup's values and communicate them to your consulting team. These values should serve as guiding principles in all aspects of your consulting practice. Such clarity will ensure that every decision, recommendation, and action is aligned with your startup's values. Secondly, exercise due diligence when selecting clients for your consulting services.

We need to begin by thoroughly understanding the startup's objectives, challenges, and values. Conduct comprehensive interviews with key stakeholders to gain insights and then tailor our advice to address their specific needs aligning our recommendations with their long-term vision. Something that usually once that we deliver the service don't happen is the regular communication , which is so important because even with the collaboration done, changes and challenges are always at the corner, so we should continue collaborating and adapt our services based on evolving priorities and feedback. Flexibility and a deep understanding of the startup's context are crucial for successful alignment with their goals.

In consulting with startups, I prioritize communication: 1. Open Dialogue: Startups face tight resources and timelines. Hence, I maintain regular, clear communication to stay aligned. 2. Trust & Rapport: I converse clearly, ensuring mutual trust and understanding. 3. Listen Actively: Addressing the startup’s concerns and feedback is crucial. My responses are always timely and professional. 4. Avoid Jargon: I keep language simple, avoiding potentially confusing terms. 5. Transparent Expectations: I clearly outline deliverables and project scope to prevent misunderstandings.

Communicate effectively by keeping it simple and transparent. Be it a project update or a feedback session, avoid jargon and corporate speak. For instance, instead of saying 'synergize deliverables', simply say 'let's combine our efforts'. This straightforward approach fosters trust and mutual understanding."

Como consultor de startups, sé que la comunicación fluida es indispensable; por ejemplo, al trabajar con una startup de delivery, tuve llamadas diarias con los fundadores para discutir avances, obstáculos y feedback, redactando informes semanales en un lenguaje sencillo y muy entendible. Al priorizar la claridad, la prontitud en resolver dudas y evitar tecnicismos, establecí confianza y alineación que nos permitió navegar cambios frecuentes de prioridades, obtener buenos resultados en los plazos acotados y sentar las bases para una relación de largo plazo.

Simple, transparent, and RECURRING! Transparency and consistency are key here. Effective communication helps you achieve these goals: -> show management that there is consistent progress (or consistent no progress) -> highlight the priorities and re-iterate goals so that everyone is focused on what matters -> communicate the roadblocks Long story short, no communication = no work done. So if you are looking for the right strategy, the overcommunication one is a solid one.

Interpretations can lead to ambiguity if the statements are not clearly formulated because people have different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. Pay particular attention to these two points to avoid unnecessary interpretations: Assumptions and biases: People tend to fill in gaps in communication with their own assumptions and biases. When a statement leaves room for interpretation, people can inject their own expectations and perceptions into the message, which can lead to false conclusions. Lack of contextual information: Without sufficient context, statements can easily be misunderstood. If important background information is missing, people may try to interpret the context themselves, leading to ambiguity.

In the startup world, change is the only constant. As they pivot or respond to market shifts, your strategies must too. For instance, if a startup's key product faces sudden competition, rather than sticking to the initial plan, collaboratively re-strategize. Your adaptability is your strength; it mirrors their agility.

Al trabajar con startups como consultor, es clave mantener flexibilidad y adaptabilidad ante sus prioridades cambiantes. Lo que inicialmente era el foco puede dejar de ser relevante semanas después por pivotajes estratégicos o nuevas necesidades del mercado. Imponer soluciones preestablecidas sin ajustarse a estas dinámicas simplemente no funciona. Se requiere una mente abierta para escuchar activamente e identificar dónde está el valor en tiempo real, y creatividad para ajustar propuestas. Ya sea reenfocando entregables, metodologías o plazos, el consultor debe responder ágilmente al contexto emergente de la startup para generar el máximo impacto. Esto genera relaciones de confianza duraderas, mucho más que aplicar fórmulas genéricas.

Startups are the rollercoasters of the business world. Embrace the ride! Be ready to tweak timelines, reshape scopes, and pivot strategies based on feedback, market twists, or their internal rollercoasters. Adapt your consulting style to fit their culture, preferences, and capabilities. Stay open-minded, inventive, and learn from them; don't play the "I know it all" card. In this startup circus, flexibility isn't just a virtue; it's your ticket to the main event. So, keep your seatbelt fastened, and enjoy the ride! ??

Be Agile - set up the necessary structures and boundaries to be able to leverage the needed flexibility and shift ability while movong forward and constantly apply the learnings and new information.

Navigating the dynamic startup landscape demands flexibility and adaptability. Be prepared to adjust timelines, scope, or approaches based on evolving needs, feedback, or market conditions. Adapt your consulting style to align with the startup's culture, preferences, and capabilities. Embrace an open-minded, creative stance, learning from your clients instead of imposing assumptions. In the ever-changing startup environment, your ability to pivot and tailor your strategies to their dynamic circumstances will define the success of your consulting partnership.

Real Life Scenario: A big 4 firm brought in an army of consultants, pulled 75 execs from their work for a full 2 days. Breakdown of activity: 25% of time was spent pitching their other stuff 25% of time was spent in breakout session - ideating use cases without the right business owners 25% was spent recapping where it became apparent that the use cases were not hitting home 25% celebrating Bonus: Recap document was sent a month later and was also geared towards selling, with extremely general next steps (no recos). Don't be these people. They exploited their relationship with the client to sell more things and delivered a big goose egg of value. -Know your client -Make the next steps actionable and specific -Make their time worth it

If you do not add value - LEAVE. Sometimes leaving adds value. Those consultants that do nothing, and stay just to keep billing - are a waste of time. Unfortunately, there are plenty of those. That's why there are so many trust issues when hiring a consultant.

I would like to bring up another viewpoint: If you are a consultant for start-ups, particularly those led by young and inexperienced founders, you have to blend expertise with empathy. While these founders may have innovative ideas and endless energy, they often lack the experience and perspective necessary to navigate the complexities of building and scaling a successful business. As a consultant, it's crucial to recognize that what these founders want may not always align with what they truly need. This often means guidance and solutions that address the underlying challenges and gaps in the start-up's strategy and operations, even if the founders aren't initially receptive to them.

Startups want consultants who don't just talk but deliver real value. It's not about advice; it's about transformation. Show them how your consulting services can tackle their challenges, elevate performance, and reach their goals. Skip the theory; offer actionable recommendations and measurable results. Let them see how you save time, cut costs, and drive growth. Be their impact partner, not just an advisor. In the startup world, actions speak louder than buzzwords. Your value is your currency.

In the startup realm, consultants must go beyond dispensing advice; they need to add tangible value and impact. Demonstrate how your services directly address their challenges, enhance performance, and propel them toward their goals. Offer actionable recommendations, practical solutions, and measurable outcomes, steering clear of theoretical frameworks or generic advice. Showcase the concrete ways your consulting can save time, reduce costs, or boost revenue, growth, and customer satisfaction. By focusing on practical, results-driven strategies, you position your consultancy as a catalyst for meaningful change in the startup's trajectory.

Startups value their freedom and unique identity. Remember, you're an advisor, not a director. Instead of steering their journey, guide them by offering insights. Think of it as suggesting a more efficient route to a driver without grabbing the wheel. Honor their vision, and let them make the final call.

Acknowledging the entrepreneurial spirit of startup founders is crucial. Respect their autonomy by refraining from taking over decision-making or attempting to reshape their culture. Act as a collaborative partner, supporting their vision rather than imposing your own. Value and consider their opinions and ideas, avoiding dismissiveness or criticism. Uphold boundaries, maintaining confidentiality and respecting intellectual property. Steer clear of meddling in internal affairs or disclosing sensitive information. By respecting their autonomy, you foster a relationship built on trust and collaboration, integral for success in the startup ecosystem.

In the world of startups, founders often possess a fierce sense of ownership and independence. As a consultant, your role is to respect their autonomy, not challenge it. Be their partner, not a commander, nurturing their vision instead of imposing your own. Listen and value their opinions and ideas. Their feedback matters. Uphold boundaries, confidentiality, and intellectual property, safeguarding their trust. Don't meddle in their affairs or disclose sensitive information. In the startup journey, autonomy is sacred; your role is to empower, not overpower. Mutual respect is the bridge to success.

The worst thing in the world is a one day a month CEO. You don’t spend the time and energy on the startup to the degree the founders do. The role is to question, challenge, support, encourage and to be honest. Even if that may be inconvenient or painful. It’s not your business or your decision. Respect that the founders may well see things differently.

Fresh start-ups might live and breathe the founder's personal brand. Autonomy and freedom is fine up to the point where the founder needs to make a difference: - CEO - managing the start-up and letting the organization to have its' own identity - Specialist / artist that keeps their personal brand as the engine of the start-up and hires a CEO Do you see other options for the founder to grow their start-up into a strong organization?

Resilience and adaptability. It is a vital skill but especially so in the startup space. There just aren't enough resources, both money and time, to stay on a path that is not yielding value. The ongoing customer discovery process can serve as your compass. If it's not landing, then pivot.

By hiring your services, a startup is looking to utilise the experience you have to make their own offering better. By adopting this same mindset, consultants can also improve their own skillsets. Almost every new client will possess a skill that you don't have, and by observing their processes, you gain a broader understanding of the commercial landscape. A good business consultant should always be receptive to new ideas.

Working with startups offers a unique opportunity for mutual learning and growth. Embrace the chance to learn from their innovative spirit, unwavering passion, and remarkable resilience in the face of challenges. This experience can be invaluable in honing your consulting skills, expanding your knowledge base, and strengthening your professional network. Approach your work with curiosity and humility, acknowledging that there's always something new to learn from your clients. Encourage open communication by actively seeking feedback on your performance and reflecting on areas for improvement. By fostering a continuous learning cycle, you can ensure you consistently deliver the highest value to all your startup clients.

My experience tells me that in addition to all the great advise by fellow contributors about building trust, understanding needs and focusing to real requirements, there is a real need for them to know what to do or not to do. Many times some aspects may be overlooked or deprioritised given the pace and priorities. It’s important to bring those to the front. Another way to really help start ups is to help them design and manage standard processes - business or people and take that off the plate. This can help business focus on core while ensuring no compromises are made. Bring that experience in. Help set-up that can be run off the shelf.

Here is what I recommend: Building trust is paramount. For startups, every decision can impact their future. By consistently delivering results and being transparent about potential pitfalls, you foster trust. Example: If a proposed strategy carries risks, lay them out clearly. Your openness will be appreciated, reinforcing your role as a trusted advisor.

To ensure your consulting services align with startup values, prioritize flexibility and adaptability in your approach. Startups often require nimble solutions, so tailor your advice to their unique needs, fostering innovation and growth. Stay attuned to their mission, culture, and goals, emphasizing collaborative problem-solving and cost-effective strategies. Transparency and open communication are key, as startups value honesty and authenticity. Continuously update your knowledge to provide cutting-edge insights, demonstrating your commitment to their success. Ultimately, aligning with startup values means being a partner in their journey, not just a service provider.

Ensure that expectations are aligned. role deliverable s and results should be clear upfront. Startups have limited resources and need quantifiable results for each investment, it is important that as a consultant you make sure that the deliverable (document or simple advice) that can be provided is understood ahead of comittment to ensure tat misunderstanding don't generate unmet expectations.

One of the crucial elements mostly overlooked is the proactive risk mitigation. As a strategy & management consultant, I can leverage my expertise & external perspective to Identify and address potential risks for the startup. This aspect is mostly overlooked by the founders as they are totally absorbed in building and growing their product/services. As someone who has been there, done that, I can help them in A. risk identification B. give diverse perspectives C. challenge the status quo D. help in developing contingency plans More than often, this proactive approach helps in implementing preventive measures that reduce the likelihood of identified risks materialising, and therefore, build a more robust and resilient business.