Getting a job as a change management consultant can be daunting. Open positions often require several years of management consulting experience, and landing that career still requires specific certifications, skills, and education.
Then, there’s the matter of making change management successful in the organization you’re working for. Starting a new role has a steep learning curve, but having the right mindset and strategies can make all the difference.
In this post, we’ll explain what a change management consultant is and how to pursue this career. Discover what goes into the role and the skills every change management consultant needs to help organizations thrive.
What Does a Change Management Consultant Do?
A change management consultant helps businesses through a significant transition. When an organization is in flux, internal teams and external stakeholders feel the strain of change. Without the right approach, major organizational change such as restructuring, going public, or changing processes often means resistance to change.
Change is a must for many organizations to keep up, and there’s a clear path to success. According to a McKinsey survey, the organizational transformations that come close to realizing their full financial benefit are more likely than others to match their best talent to their most important initiatives.
Job Role Responsibilities for a Change Management Consultant
Responsibilities will vary from project to project and company to company. In every case, a change management consultant is an expert in maximizing the positive impact of changes while mitigating risk. Typical role responsibilities for a change management consultant might include.
1. Assessing an organization’s readiness for change
Change management consultants analyze the current organizational culture and identify potential barriers to change. This change readiness assessment includes determining the level of employee engagement and receptiveness. The consultant also needs to gauge the leadership’s commitment to change.
2. Tailoring communication to be well-received
Consultants develop change communication strategies that address concerns and motivate employees. They craft messages that resonate with different levels of the organization. This reduces uncertainty and builds confidence in the process.
3. Building buy-in across the organization
Another step is identifying stakeholders and influencers who can help champion the change. From here, consultants can also develop strategies and incentives to encourage adoption. This way, organizations may see the impact of change faster.
4. Using digital adoption tools to improve the transition process
Consultants often recommend and implement digital adoption platforms (DAP) to ease the transition. With Whatfix DAP, change management consultants can empower technology end-users with contextual in-app guidance and moment-of-need support.
Use a no-code editor to create in-app experiences like Tours, Flows, Task Lists, Smart Tips, and Pop-Ups to accelerate time-to-proficiency, providing contextual nudges to keep users on the right path, and support employees at the moment of need. Self Help overlays software UI and provides a searchable help center.
5. Taking and prioritizing feedback
Change management is an ongoing process. That’s why change management consultants collect feedback. Whatfix provides application owners and IT managers with a tool to create in-app surveys to collect feedback inside applications. These can be open- or close-ended questions, surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups.
Are you starting a change initiative? Download our free pack of six change management templates to kick-start your change projects.
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How to Become a Change Management Consultant
To work in change management, you’ll need a plan. Follow these steps to craft the career you want.
1. Develop relevant skills and knowledge
Change management consultants need to think strategically. Focus on developing your ability to analyze complex situations. You’ll need to be able to find solutions to problems and communicate your approach.
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2. Get an education and pursue certifications
Aspiring change management consultants should study strategic and people management. Look for programs that offer courses in organizational behavior, change management, and planning. Consider change management certifications and credentials like a Change Management Institute (CMI) Certificate.
3. Gain practical experience
If you’re early in your career, look for internships at consulting firms specializing in change management. If you’re ready for the workforce, look for roles that expose you to organizational change. These could be positions in departments like human resources or project management.
Once you’re employed as a management consultant, work with your boss to develop expertise in change management. If all of your projects have used the same change management model, like Kurt Lewin’s 3-Stage Change Management Model or ADKAR, ask for an assignment that leverages something else so you can add it to your tool kit.
4. Expand your network
Participate in conferences and workshops about change management. These events allow you to learn from experts and others in the field. Use social media to connect with industry professionals, too.
5. Specialize in a type of change
Once you understand the role, consider specializing in change management for a specific industry. Spaces like healthcare or finance. This can make you more valuable to businesses in those sectors.
6. Establish your career path
There are many different ways to be a successful change management consultant. Do you want to be an internal expert for an organization or an external consultant? Find your direction and pursue positions where you’ll make the most impact.
5 Essential Skills of Change Management Consultants
Change management consultants need a unique set of skills. These are some of the most important ones that power a successful career.
1. Adaptability
Change is constant, and consultants must be able to pivot quickly. They need to adjust their strategies based on new information or unexpected challenges. This flexibility allows them to guide organizations through uncertain times effectively.
2. Strategic thinking
Successful change management consultants think beyond individual moments. They understand how various parts of an organization interact and can develop comprehensive strategies. This skill helps them create effective change plans. They can address both short-term needs and long-term goals.
3. Empathy
Change can be stressful for all employees. Consultants with strong empathy can understand that. They address the concerns of different stakeholders. This emotional intelligence helps build trust. It also reduces resistance to change.
4. Communication
Clear communication makes all the difference in change management. Consultants must explain their ideas well. They need to tailor their message to different audiences. Effective communication helps create buy-in. It can also help keep everyone aligned during the change process.
5. Problem-solving
Change often brings unexpected challenges. Skilled consultants can quickly identify problems. Then, they develop creative solutions. This ability to troubleshoot keeps change initiatives on track. It allows organizations to make progress. Even when obstacles come up.
How to Hire a Change Management Consultant
Finding the right change management consultant can make a difference in your organization’s transformation. Here’s how to find the best fit.
1. Define your needs
Before you start looking, clearly outline what you need. Are you planning:
- A merger
- Implementing new technology
- Restructuring
Understanding your specific needs will help you find a consultant with relevant experience.
2. Look for relevant experience
Next, look for that experience. Change management can have many different meanings. Look for consultants who know your space or project type. Ask for case studies or examples. This will give you ideas about how they can help.
3. Check credentials
Credentials can also indicate expertise. Look for consultants with relevant change management certifications. Things like the Prosci Change Management Certification. Professionals may also be members of associations like the Association of Change Management Professionals.
4. Assess their approach
Every consultant has their own views. Ask potential hires to explain their approach to change management. Make sure it aligns with your organization’s culture and values.
5. Evaluate communication skills
Change management requires effective communication. During the interview process, pay attention to how well the consultant explains ideas. This is likely to be the way they’ll work with your team.
6. Consider cultural fit
The consultant will be working closely with your organization. Consider how well they’ll fit into the company. A good cultural fit may make change go more smoothly. This is especially important to consider in long-term projects.
Change Clicks Better With Whatfix
Accelerate change management by enabling your employees with contextual in-app guidance and constant real-time support via Whatfix digital adoption platform (DAP).
Whatfix provides application owners and IT teams with a comprehensive no-code platform to enable users, improve onboarding, and drive adoption. This will help you achieve business outcomes and create frictionless digital experiences.
With Whatfix:
- Enable end-users to have contextual, role-based in-app onboarding and training with Whatfix in-app guidance and experiences like Tours, Flows, and Task Lists.
- Provide on-demand self-help support for end-users with Whatfix Self Help and identify common troubleshooting issues with Guidance Analytics.
- Build sandbox environments for simulated hands-on training with Whatfix Mirror.
- Collect feedback with Whatfix Surveys
- Analyze end-user behavior to identify areas of digital friction and map optimal workflows with Whatfix Analytics.
With Whatfix, you can understand how your employees use and under-adopt your technology. This makes it easier to adjust software onboarding, training, support, and overall end-user adoption strategies—all to provide a seamless experience for every end-user that enables them with the right context and support to utilize new technologies and systems fully.
Ready to learn more about Whatfix? Request a demo today!