156. Are You Getting the Most from Your Consultants? How to Turn Expertise into Action

Organizations invest thousands—and sometimes millions—of dollars in consultants with the expectation that meaningful change will follow. But too often, those investments fall short, not because of the consultant, but because of how the engagement is managed. In this episode, Renee Schulte and Jason Haglund share lessons from years of consulting with healthcare organizations, highlighting the biggest mistakes that waste valuable time and resources. From unclear meeting agendas and missing decision-makers to chasing unsolvable problems and failing to follow through, they discuss practical strategies that help organizations maximize every consulting engagement and create lasting results.In this episode, you will be able to:Why hiring a consultant is only the first step—and why follow-through determines success.The most common ways organizations waste consultant time and resources.How meeting structure, attendance, and accountability can dramatically improve outcomes.Why consultants should challenge assumptions instead of simply validating existing beliefs.Practical strategies for keeping projects on track through timelines, data, and measurable goals.The key moments in this episode are:00:00:11 – Introduction & Why Consultant Time Matters00:03:06 – Billions Spent on Consulting with Limited Measured Impact00:03:28 – The Biggest Consultant Time Wasters00:07:03 – Why Organizations Sometimes Want Validation Instead of Truth00:09:00 – The Importance of Agendas and Structured Meetings00:12:05 – Getting the Right Decision-Makers in the Room00:14:46 – Avoiding "Unsolvable" Conversations That Stall Progress00:18:20 – Using Data Instead of Opinions to Drive Decisions00:24:10 – Breaking Down Data-Sharing Barriers00:29:23 – Using Timelines to Keep Consulting Projects Moving00:30:00 – Final Takeaways & Closing ThoughtsLinks:https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1126675https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42081210/https://www.missionmet.com/blog/understanding-the-cost-of-hiring-a-strategic-planning-consultant-for-your-nonprofit Connect with us: https://ruralpolicypartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/company/rural-policy-partners/ https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ruralpolicypartnershttps://www.youtube.com/@ruralpolicypartnersWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7iGX6ngUs2g