Ask a client about his or her satisfaction with a given consultant, and the answer is likely to come with a smile. That's according to a new American Management Association/Institute of Management Consultants survey that polled executives about their client-consultant experiences. Eighty-two percent rated those experiences as positive. That, coupled with the finding that more than 25 percent reported that their respective companies spent more than $1 million annually on external consultants, has led experts to predict healthy growth in the field.
"It is a very good time for consulting. This data reaffirms our expectations of continued growth and improved client-consultant relationships across the industry," said Bob Brown, managing director of Consulting Intelligence, which conducted the survey for the sponsoring organizations. "In addition, the survey offers consultants the unique opportunity to get inside the minds of their clients and learn about their expectations."
The survey also asked what skills clients want in consultants. Those polled said: competence, effective communication, accountability, experience and integrity. Clients also view the profession as a relatively trustworthy one, as polled executives listed it fifth among 10 sample industries.
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