Comparing: Do I Self-Implement, Do I Take More Courses, Do I Take on a Consultant?

So you’ve read about the Five Facets of Business™ on our website, maybe you’ve downloaded our free Five Facets guide or you’ve taken one of our monthly workshops. You suspect this framework could help your business, but you’re not sure how to do it and now you find yourself at a crossroads when it comes to implementing The Five Facets of Business™ at your company. Do you self-implement, enroll in more courses, or seek the guidance of one of our consultants? In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of each approach to help you make an informed decision.

Self-Implementation

Self-implementing The Five Facets of Business™ is a path chosen by many driven individuals. It involves taking the initiative to learn, upgrade and execute various business functions (on top of the day to day work you already do) without external assistance. Here are some considerations:

Pros

• Cost-effective: Self-implementation typically requires minimal financial investment as you can leverage free or low-cost resources available online.
• Personalized learning: You have the flexibility to tailor your learning journey to your specific business needs and pace.
• Ownership and control: Managing the implementation of all Five Facets internally gives you complete control over decision-making and implementation practices.

Cons

• Learning curve: Acquiring knowledge and expertise in multiple business Facets, as well as what the optimal output of each can be, will most likely be time-consuming and challenging.
• Limited external perspective: Relying solely on self-implementation might result in a lack of diverse insights that external perspectives can offer, especially if you’ve worked in the business for a long time and are stuck in the same process habits. Those habits can be difficult to change. 
• Avoiding the hard parts: With any framework, there are easier and more challenging elements to implement. Most self-implementations don’t get to the hard parts – the tough conversations, the shifting of old practices, etc. 

Taking Courses

Enrolling in courses and workshops is a popular option for individuals seeking structured learning experiences to enhance their business skills.

Pros

• Structured curriculum: Courses and workshops provide a systematic approach to learning each of The Five Facets of Business™ as well as the leadership skills required to help your company systematize and scale.
• Networking opportunities: Interacting with instructors and fellow participants can lead to valuable connections and insights.
• Time-efficient: Courses often condense essential information, allowing for a more time-efficient learning process.

Cons

• Cost and Time: Quality courses and workshops have a  price tag, and they require time to learn and digest the information. .
• Generalization: Courses and workshops may cover broad topics, leaving some aspects of your specific business needs unaddressed.
• Impact: Courses are a great way to learn new information, practices, and advance your learning. It can be difficult, however, to take that learning and translate it back into your day-to-day work in an effective way. 

Hiring a Consultant

Engaging our team of consultants is a strategic decision that involves bringing in external expertise to guide and support your business across the Five Facets.

Pros

• Specialized knowledge: Our consultants bring deep expertise in each of the Five Facets, providing targeted solutions for optimizing your operations, finances, strategy, story (sales and marketing) and culture.
• Time-saving: Our consultants can expedite the implementation process, leveraging their experience to streamline operations, build resources, and manage change implementation projects.
• Objectivity: As external consultants, we offer an unbiased perspective, helping identify and address issues that may be overlooked internally.
• Impact: Hiring a consultant creates the most change and impact of the three approaches. You will see more rapid and sustainable change.  

Cons

• Cost: Hiring a consultant can be a significant financial commitment, especially for smaller businesses or startups.
• Time: Bringing on a consultant requires time from the leadership team and key personnel to design and support the implementation process. 
• Commitment: Making the changes to the business can be challenging, and when implemented rapidly with a consultant, can feel overwhelming for some. It takes commitment to make an implementation effective, and requires that the leadership team are fully bought in on the change. 

Choosing between self-implementation, taking courses, or hiring a consultant depends on various factors, including your budget, time constraints, and the specific needs of your business. A balanced approach, combining elements of each option, may be the key to a well-rounded and successful business strategy. Ultimately, the decision rests on understanding your priorities and finding a solution that aligns with your company goals and resources.

Not sure what to do? We’re happy to help. Reach out to info@theevolvedifference.com to learn more about each of the approaches, and which might be the best fit for you.