34 Association Management The problem with hiring external expertise is that if you need help, obviously you lack crucial knowledge or experience. So when you seek help, you don’t know if someone who claims to be able to help really can! The familiar approach to hiring a consultant is to ask for references. Asking for references is helpful, as long as you take the time to check the references you receive! I’m happy to provide references and am amused at how infrequently they are subsequently checked. Sometimes a consultant’s references will tell you things that cause you to promptly strike them from your list of candidates. But there’s another test that you should always apply when hiring a consultant. Check to see if they will say they don’t know the answer to a question when they actually don’t. Interview the consultant and ask them questions about the work you want them to do. Listen carefully to how they respond to your questions. You are looking for them to show that they know the limits of their abilities and that they are willing to share their limits with you. If necessary, ask whether they can do something that is a little outside their stated expertise and listen carefully to how they respond. If you hear an unwillingness to admit that they can’t fulfill your request, you are receiving an important warning. Ignore it at your peril! Are you thinking of hiring a consultant who won’t sometimes tell you “I don’t know”? Don’t do that! Conclusions and a Follow-Up These three less-common mistakes are ones I’ve encountered repeatedly, yet they often go unnoticed— even by experienced association professionals. I hope my observations are helpful, and I welcome your thoughts on Association Chat! In Part 2 of this article, I’ll share more “Don’t do that!” warnings about common mistakes I’ve seen when planning association events. Adrian Segar is a pioneer in participant-driven and participationrich events, with over 40 years of experience designing and facilitating conferences that foster learning, engagement, and connection. Since 1992, he has helped organizations create can't-miss events that drive action and meaningful connections. Named one of the 100 most influential people in the event industry, Adrian is the author of three books on meeting design, including Conferences That Work and The Power of Participation. Quoted by The Wall Street Journal and Success Magazine, he leads experiential workshops and advises on innovative conference design worldwide. Ever Think About?
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