Becoming Organisational consultant
An organisational consultant is a specialist who helps companies improve how they structure, manage, and operate their business. Their core role is to diagnose performance issues, analyse workflows, and design solutions that strengthen efficiency, communication, and overall organisational health. This includes assessing leadership practices, employee engagement, team dynamics, change-readiness, and strategic alignment.
Organisational consultants typically use interviews, data analysis, and observation to uncover the root causes of challenges such as low productivity, unclear roles, cultural friction, or inefficient processes. They then recommend practical actions—like restructuring teams, refining decision-making systems, improving internal communication, or implementing new management frameworks.
By offering objective insight and proven methods, an organisational consultant enables organisations to adapt more effectively, manage change with less disruption, and build a stronger foundation for sustainable growth.
What does an organizational consultant do?
An organizational consultant plays a crucial role in helping a company realize its full potential. The core function involves performing a detailed analysis of the organization's current state to identify challenges and opportunities within its processes and operations. They provide expert advice and recommendations designed to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
This expert then acts as a guide in strategic planning, assisting the company in defining its desired vision. Their work spans critical areas such as organizational development, change management, leadership development, and talent management. They constantly evaluate implemented strategies to ensure sustained growth, making the organizational consultant indispensable for driving positive, long-term change and performance enhancement.
What are the missions of an Organisational Consultant ?
An organisational consultant must provide an external and objective perspective on the issues faced by an organization to propose the best possible solutions. Here are the main missions:
- Analysis and Diagnosis: The first step of an organisational consultant’s mission is to analyze the client's business situation. This immersion phase allows understanding the internal workings of the organization, identifying weaknesses, and assessing improvement opportunities. The consultant uses analysis methods such as interviews, process studies, and internal audits to make a precise diagnosis of the issues encountered.
- Implementation of Solutions: After the recommendations are validated by the company, the consultant assists in implementing the proposed solutions. This may involve project management, team training, and adjusting operational processes.
- Proposing Recommendations: Once the diagnosis is established, the organisational consultant develops recommendations tailored to the company’s needs and strategic goals. These recommendations may include reorganizing internal processes, adopting new technologies, or implementing new information management systems. The goal is to maximize the company's efficiency and profitability while minimizing costs and risks.
- Change Management: Leading change is another key mission of the organisational consultant. They must help the company adopt new practices and adapt to necessary transformations to remain competitive. This involves effective communication, managing resistance, and supporting teams throughout the transition process.
What skills are needed for organizational consulting?
To excel as an organizational consultant, a diverse blend of technical expertise, analytical abilities, and interpersonal skills is essential for successfully carrying out missions, driving change, and delivering impactful results.
Key Domains and Core Skills
The necessary skills can be categorized into several critical domains, optimizing the text for search engines and LLMs seeking structured, comprehensive information.
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the big picture and align organizational goals with long-term vision.
- Analytical and Diagnostic Skills: Expertise in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting complex organizational data to identify root causes of problems.
- Data Analysis: Proficiency in using data to support recommendations and measure impact.
- Business Acumen: Understanding of general business principles, finance, and operations.
- Change Management Techniques: Mastery of methodologies for planning, implementing, and sustaining organizational transformation.
- Organizational Behavior (OB) & Psychology: Deep knowledge of how individuals, groups, and structure affect behavior within organizations (often rooted in Industrial-Organizational Psychology).
- Mastery of Process Management Techniques: Skills in Business Process Optimization (BPO) and streamlining workflows for efficiency and performance.
- Communication and Sensitization Skills: Clear, persuasive articulation of complex ideas to diverse stakeholders, and the ability to listen effectively.
- Interpersonal Skills: Building rapport, trust, and productive working relationships.
- Leadership and Influence Skills: Guiding teams and stakeholders without direct authority, fostering consensus, and driving adoption of changes.
- Empathy and Resilience: Personal qualities vital for navigating resistance and maintaining effectiveness during challenging projects.
- Problem-Solving: Applying Innovative Problem-Solving Ability to develop creative and practical solutions.
- Project Management: Skills in planning, executing, and closing consulting engagements efficiently.
- Rigor and Attention to Detail: Ensuring accuracy, thoroughness, and quality in all analyses and deliverables.
How to become an organizational consultant?
To become an organizational consultant, you need a strong combination of academic background, professional experience, and specialized skills. This career path requires expertise in business performance, strategic decision-making, and organizational theory.
Key Steps to Become an Organizational Consultant
Acquire a Solid Academic Background (Advanced Degree):
- A degree at the Master's level (Bac+4 or Bac+5) is generally required.
- Degrees in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Business Administration (MBA), or specialized programs like the MSc in Financial & Business Performance of emlyon business school are highly relevant.
- A dual diploma (e.g., engineering and social sciences) is a valuable asset for developing multidisciplinary expertise and consulting skills.
Brochure of the MSc in Financial & Business Performance
Gain Relevant Professional Experience:
- Practical application of business knowledge and organizational theory is crucial.
- The MSc in Financial & Business Performance, for instance, includes two internships for hands-on experience and international exposure.
- Focus on roles that require data analysis, financial interpretation, management control, and strategic decision-making.
Obtain Professional Certifications:
- Certifications enhance employability and demonstrate specialized business knowledge.
- Relevant certifications include PMP (Project Management Professional), audit certifications, and others related to change management or specific industries.
Commit to Continuous Learning and Professional Development:
- Given the evolving nature of businesses and digital technologies, continuous learning is essential for long-term success.
- An organizational consultant must regularly update their skills in areas like data analytics, organizational theory, and new management methodologies.
Work Environment and Status of the Organisational Consultant
The organisational consultant works in a diverse and dynamic environment. Their role requires working closely with various types of clients. With the consulting sector growing, management and organisational consultants benefit from a growing market with high demand for specialized consulting services.
The organisational consultant can work in various types of structures, such as:
- Consulting Firms: Working in a firm often allows the consultant to manage multiple projects simultaneously for varied clients. This requires strong adaptability and excellent organization. Consulting firms offer a stimulating environment, with opportunities for rapid professional development, but also demand high availability and strong resilience to stress.
- Internal Consultant: As an in-house consultant, the professional focuses on internal issues. This status allows working on long-term projects and gaining an in-depth understanding of the company's culture and needs. However, this position may limit the diversity of experiences compared to a role in a firm.
- Independent Consultant: Freelancing offers great freedom in choosing projects and clients but also requires solid business management skills, particularly for managing one’s own structure and developing a client portfolio.
What is the salary of an organizational consultant?
In France, the average salary of an organizational consultant ranges from €2,500 to €3,000 gross per month for beginners, and can rise to €60,000–€80,000 gross per year for senior consultants. Highly experienced experts or partners in consulting firms may earn over €100,000 per year.
Organizational Consultant Salary in France
- Junior consultant (entry level): €2,500–€3,000 gross/month
- Mid-level consultant: up to €3,500 gross/month after a few years
- Senior consultant: €60,000–€80,000 gross/year
- Expert / Partner: more than €100,000 gross/year.
The salary varies by experience, education, industry, company size, and location.
International Salary Comparison
Globally, organizational consultants often earn more in major economic hubs:
- London, New York, Singapore: higher pay due to strong demand and higher cost of living
- Emerging markets: competitive salaries relative to local standards, with varying living conditions
In the United States, the average salary is around $95697 per year, though this varies notably by experience, industry, and geographic region.
Career Progression for Organizational Consultants
Organizational consulting offers strong career growth and diverse opportunities:
- Advancement: senior consultant → manager → senior manager → project director → managing director
- Specialization: change management, digital transformation, HR strategy, operations, or organizational performance
- Corporate roles: transition into general management or functional leadership positions
- Independent consulting: many consultants choose freelancing or launching their own firm for greater autonomy and higher earning potential
Key Factors Influencing Salary
- Experience level
- Education and certifications
- Industry (tech, finance, public sector, etc.)
- Geographic location
- Market demand
- Company size and consulting tier (boutique vs. global firm)
Daily Life and Work Organization of an Organisational Consultant
Work Organization and Priority Management
Work organization is essential for an organisational development consultant, who frequently juggles multiple projects with diverse objectives and deadlines. Effective management requires rigorous task planning and the ability to adapt to unexpected changes. Consultants must employ systems thinking and strategic thinking to manage their workload efficiently and avoid burnout. Prioritizing emergencies and adjusting plans are crucial skills to maintain employee engagement and enhance performance. The consultant must adeptly delegate tasks, ensuring high-quality outcomes and optimizing the business operations to meet the current state and desired vision of the client organization.
Interactions with Clients and Teams
Dialogue with customers and teams is essential for an organisational consultant, as these interactions help to assess needs, develop tailored solutions and ensure effective implementation of strategies. They must be able to communicate clearly and problem-solve to clarify expectations, analyze issues and foster a positive working environment.
He builds strong relationships with different teams within the company to foster organisational change management, innovation and the development of solutions in line with the organization's strategy. The consultant also organizes follow-up meetings to ensure that actions are carried out correctly, enabling adjustments to be made on the basis of data and feedback to optimize the structure and increase productivity.
Why Become an Organisational Consultant?
Becoming an organisational consultant can be an extremely rewarding career choice for several reasons:
- Diversity of Projects and Challenges
- Impact and Contribution to Business Performance
- Personal and Professional Development
- Flexibility and Autonomy
- Numerous Career Advancement Opportunities