Offering online management advice and consulting services; why would you want it?

Some time ago, someone replied to me; "yes, but corporate advice is free."?

I don't think so. "There is no such thing as a free lunch."? This holds especially true for the consulting world. The longer the extent of a free intake offered to you, the more you will have to pay, down the road.

The benefits of online management advice come from their weakest point: distance.

Let's elaborate on this weak point. You are away from where it is burning. So, what you cannot do is extinguish the fire. Because in order to do that you need hands-on commitment. Maybe also intervention.

The question is whether quenching a fire is what you would like to do and what management would like to hire consultants for.

Think about the smoking campaigns, and think about the DNA investigations. It has all to do with prevention. Looking in front of us and anticipate. If time management is about balancing urgency and importance; as a manager you should balance both prevention and cure.

The antagonist of distance is commitment. Being there, listening, acting. You could compare this with the mission of an undercover agent. Trying to be like one of them.

But you do not need an undercover agent to challenge a vision, a strategy or a change approach. Therefore you are better of with distance. The distance you need to see things in a new perspective.

Approach your online management advisor. But don't get too close...

2006 Hans Bool