Bust the Drama, Boost the Results: The Case for Consultants
If you work in corporate America, you work with acronyms, and one of our favorites is VUCA. It stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. While most of our clients don’t use this particular acronym, they do share that these qualities can cause a lot of “drama.” Whether it’s from personal disagreements, unclear roles, or the added stress of external uncertainties, workplace drama can lead to missed deadlines, less inspired work, and disengaged employees—key metrics to manage for a successful company.
The Ripple Effect of Workplace Drama
Drama in the workplace doesn’t just take a toll on team morale. Interpersonal conflict can erode trust and lead to a decline in employee performance, particularly when conflicts remain unresolved. Employees caught in the middle of personal disputes or toxic environments often disengage, which can lead to late work, subpar quality, and less creativity.
More than that, this conflict also impacts leadership. As one of our clients recently put it:
"Managing people during uncertain times has become a delicate balancing act. Keeping everyone aligned and engaged can be incredibly draining.”
The current climate of uncertainty isn’t helping the situation. Global economic volatility and rapid market shifts have created an atmosphere where employees are more anxious, which increases the likelihood of internal friction. The instability compounds existing tensions and leaves managers scrambling to keep teams engaged.
The Power of Professional Services
One solution to overcoming workplace drama and boosting business results is leveraging outside consultants—experts who can serve as an extension of a team without getting entangled in the organization’s internal politics. By design, they come with clear deliverables, a sharp focus on the task at hand, and years of experience across multiple industries.
Unlike full-time employees who may feel the need to climb the corporate ladder, consultants approach their work without the weight of upward mobility. They check their ego at the virtual door and offer an objective perspective, which can smooth over team conflicts or help in restructuring workflows.
Additionally, consultants often bring specialized expertise, providing insight into problems internal teams may have trouble solving due to their proximity. As independent specialists, they are also naturally adept at navigating fluctuating work environments—they chose consulting after all—and have seen a variety of workplace challenges. They can provide important balance during times of internal uncertainty.
Outsourcing for Stability and Growth
By outsourcing critical (and especially deadline-driven) work to consultants, businesses can mitigate the risks posed by workplace drama and focus on achieving results. Consultants don’t have the same emotional investment in company dynamics, which allows them to concentrate on deliverables and deadlines instead of internal drama. Their focus is on helping the client succeed.
In the long term, companies that lean into this flexibility can experience greater resilience and provide full-time employees with better opportunities. As employees stretch and adapt to new challenges, the role of the consultant is to keep the business on track while providing guidance to existing employees. As another client explained:
“It’s hard to keep the team engaged when everything around us is changing. Bringing in external expertise helped ease some of the burden and provided space for our employees to take on new, exciting work.”
Conclusion
Outside consultants can offer a reprieve from drama. With years of experience and the know-how to navigate and avoid internal power struggles, they can help bring focus, efficiency, and peace of mind to the workplace.
Leverage their expertise not just to fill in gaps, but to maintain stability and productivity, especially in times of VUCA.