The Surprising Role of Consultants: Are Business Owners Truly Committed to Growth?
As a consultant for small business owners, I often find my role straddling the line between a strategic advisor and a sounding board. I’ve noticed an intriguing pattern during my paid consultations, particularly those focused on Instagram strategy. Many business owners approach me with aspirations of increased engagement, improved reach, and significant growth. While I find great satisfaction in offering these consultative sessions, there are moments when I feel more like a therapist than a strategist.
During our discussions, I delve into meaningful topics such as brand clarity, messaging, content strategy, bio enhancements, and establishing connections with the audience — the essentials for thriving on platforms like Instagram. For those who implement the insights from our sessions, the results can be transformative. It’s exciting to witness their progress when they genuinely apply the advice.
However, I often encounter a different scenario: some participants leave our consultations and take no action whatsoever. It’s perplexing. After dedicating time and resources to this professional guidance, why would a business owner choose to remain stagnant?
To me, if I were in their position, my investment in business growth would drive me to take every piece of advice seriously. Understanding my customers and innovating my approach would be paramount, as these elements are crucial for financial success.
This leads me to a question I find myself wrestling with after each session: why pay for professional mentorship only to disregard the recommendations? Why engage in discussions about growth while showing little willingness to take actionable steps?
Is this phenomenon a common experience for consultants, or am I simply encountering a unique subset of clients? I’d love to hear perspectives from fellow professionals. How do you navigate similar situations, and what do you think motivates business owners to seek advice without implementing it?
