5 Reasons Your Oil and Gas Company Needs Consultants
Even the most sophisticated oil and gas company will eventually run up against problems and opportunities outside of their expertise, especially if they want to expand. Thankfully, there are consultants who specialize in oil and gas and you can rely on their years of deep knowledge for guidance on your current or future situation.
Some executives believe consultants are an unnecessary expense as they can prevent the company from learning and developing independently. However, the following five reasons show these knowledgeable professionals can help enhance the knowledge base of your oil and gas company.
#1 They Provide Niche Knowledge
You hired excellent people to do superior work for your company. It’s the reason you’ve done so well to this point. But you also might not have a person, team, or department to cover every single aspect of the oil and gas industry. And that’s OK! This is why you hire a consultant.
You’re not hiring just any person to help your company explore new frontiers; rather, you are looking for a seasoned professional with highly specialized experience in your company’s pain areas. Consultants will come into the fold with a plan already in place. There is no learning curve, no ramp-up time, no confusion – they hit the ground running.
#2 They Offer an Outside Perspective
The benefit of bringing in a consultant is that they can see the whole situation with fresh eyes and give honest recommendations. You might have a detailed understanding of your business and core competencies, but you can also be too in the weeds to visualize and execute on your goals. Good leaders seek to continually improve, and sometimes that means engaging an outside, objective perspective.
By nature, consultants keep themselves a step removed from your day-to-day so they can better identify what needs to be addressed. To be clear, this isn’t a recommendation to turn over control or authority to a consultant, as many might have you believe. You’re merely asking a trusted and vetted expert to examine your company’s current situation with the hope they will provide much-needed advice about the next steps you should take.
#3 They Concentrate on a Single Project
Your people have a lot on their plate keeping your oil and gas business running since you hired them for their specific roles. But when it comes to a brand-new project that lies outside their scope, the last thing you should want is for them to get distracted by new work. Far too often, we’ve seen companies stretch their staff too thin by having them take on additional projects on top of their regular assignments, which causes the work to slow down.
With a consultant, you’re hiring a project-specific professional whose entire focus will be that work only. They won’t have to deal with any day-to-day tasks, much less any tangential meetings, assignments, or emails. By freeing them of regular employee work, they can complete the assigned project according to the terms of the contract you both signed.
#4 They Save Time, Money, and Effort
Directly related to tip #3, when you free up your consultant to do their work (and their work only), you gain their expertise, and they can work without obstructions. This reduces the time it takes to get the job done, which is a boon to your bottom line. Because, despite what detractors might tell you, a worthy consultant can help you save in many ways.
Let’s count a few:
- You don’t pay for their health insurance.
- You don’t pay for their benefits.
- You only pay for their expertise for an agreed-upon contract term.
- You only pay for specific work that must get done per the contract.
- You free up your people to excel in their work.
- You reduce multitasking among your employees.
- You receive the benefits of the work for long after you’ve paid for it.
The concentrated nature of a consultant’s work helps your oil and gas company detect critical areas of improvement and act upon them — all while your full-time staff keeps things running.
#5 They Focus on the Future
The logical endpoint of our argument in favor of consultants comes full-circle to their expertise. You’re probably considering a consultant for your oil and gas business because you want to find a new path forward for growth or sustainability. Not only do they have the necessary knowledge and know-how to propel you in that new direction, but they have the freedom to face the future exclusively while you deal with the past and present.
Most likely, this consultant will work on a particular assignment relating to a physical product, service, or process improvement. In either case, this work’s big-picture goal is to improve your company’s abilities and processes. And once that consultant’s assignment is complete, your company will be better positioned for sustainability or growth.
Experienced Consultants Have Your Best Interests at Heart
It’s time to ignore the naysayers and find the right consultant for your oil and gas company. You deserve the knowledge and expertise they can offer as you push your business to the next level. These professionals know that your success is their success, too.
We recommend keeping the following traits in mind when you seek out an oil and gas consultant:
- Deep knowledge in the oil and gas industry
- Well-versed in technology
- Strong project management background
- Strong background in data conversion, software implementation, and strategy
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
If you need high-performing IT consultants who can improve your back-office operations, lower G&A, and manage your IT strategy, contact EAG Inc. We provide best-in-class back-office outsourcing services, IT outsourcing services, and expert-level consulting services. With our expertise, energy companies can unlock their full potential and success long term.