Outside, inside then outside again.

Working at a client business recently, we were talking about the swing that happens through the IN and OUT door. First it’s ‘we need consultants’, then it’s ‘we’re spending too much on consultants… we need to bring these services in-house’ and then it swings back to ‘we need consultants working on this’.

Have you noticed how the pendulum or swing does indeed swing? Sometimes a team gains support, insight and advice from external sources. It adds to their learning, broadens exposure to information and likely helps them get sh*t done more rapidly.

But then someone queries the cost and wonders about the value received. ‘We can’t be spending THAT much on those consultants!’ Next thing, the recruitment ads go live and the company is now recruiting for a range of in-house roles.

Have you noticed how team composition changes - from engaging consultants and external providers and then the shift to having people full time on the team … and back again?

Have you gone through the IN or the OUT door recently?