Modes of Consulting #2: The Pair of Hands

Do you prefer to interact with clients as an outside expert, a pair of hands doing the work, or a skilled collaborator? They can all be fun.

In his classic book Flawless Consulting, Peter Block describes three types of roles that consultants and other types of freelancers might take on: expert, pair-of-hands, and collaborator. Each of these represents a different kind of interaction when working with clients and a different source of satisfaction for the consultant. This article describes consulting in the pair-of-hands mode.

Lend a Helping Hand (or Two)

When working in the pair-of-hands mode, the consultant is providing a service that the client might be able to perform themselves but for which the client lacks sufficient staff or time. The client defines the need and sets the project boundaries and expectations. The consultant then goes off and performs the work largely on their own, with the client contact assessing the deliverables to ensure they are satisfactory. The consultant could be working at the client site or in their own home office for this kind of work.

Some companies hire an experienced business analyst (BA) on a contract basis for a specific project. The consultant…