How Do We Define Human Capital Consulting?

When we talk about leadership, we're really talking about leading people. Unfortunately, some leaders have lost sight of this concept, even if they insist that people are their organizations' greatest assets. Somewhere along the way, they've lost sight of the fact that human capital is any business's most important investment – even more important than the most expensive piece of equipment or property.

How Do We Define Human Capital Consulting?

The bottom line is that human capital is all about the development of people. Human capital consulting, therefore, is consulting that helps business leaders understand the true value of their people. If you're working as a consultant, one of your primary objectives will be to help leaders understand the true value of their human capital.

Imagine a company that has spent millions of dollars on a piece of equipment. That piece of equipment is paid off in installments, and there's an expectation that it should serve the organization for about five to ten years. There's little doubt that business leaders would keep close tabs on that piece of equipment. They'd make sure they spent time on the production floor to monitor its performance, and they'd ensure that the appropriate investments were made for maintenance.

When that same organization hires an individual at a salary of $50,000 per year, a similar investment has been made. It's in the company's best interest for that employee to stick around, but too many leaders fail to understand the value of the investment. Too often, an individual is hired only to be forgotten instead of being developed, nurtured and encouraged to grow.

As a human capital consultant, your primary objective will be to convince leaders to truly walk the walk when it comes to proving that their people really are their greatest assets. How will you do this?

You'll need to convince leaders to consider some important questions, such as:

• “Are my people attuned with the goals of my organization?”
   

• “Are my people producing properly?”
   

• “Is there too much down time?”
   

• “Are my people connecting with each other in ways that benefit the organization?”

You'll also need to help leaders master the so-called “soft skills,” which include:

• Communication
   

• Conflict management
   

• Team Building
   

• Coaching
   

• Mentoring
   

• Providing real-time feedback
   

• Challenging employees appropriately

Taking on the Challenge

Consulting is an excellent career path for a variety reasons, but for many consultants, the real satisfaction comes from helping people reach their goals and find success. Although it's challenging to align leaders with some of the beliefs they espouse when it comes to their people, your ability to convince leaders of the value of their human capital investments will produce real results. Few careers offer you the opportunity to turn whole organizations around, but consulting gives you that opportunity every single day. By working with leaders to help them take a greater interest in their people, you will transform an organization's culture positively while helping it lay the groundwork for years of continued success.

People are the greatest asset of any business – leaders say this all the time. Successful companies walk the walk, but others need help getting to the point where the words spoken by their leaders align with day-to-day reality. If you believe in the power of people, and you want to make a positive difference, human capital consulting is the ideal career.

Are you interested in learning more about how we define human capital consulting? Are you looking for more insights into helping organizations develop their workforces? Learn more about the Ex3 Matters philosophy by reading Buddy Hobart's free eBook, “Experience Matters,” or by checking out the free Ex3 Matters consulting guides.