What we mean by strategic consulting
For Hermes, strategic consulting means offering an outside perspective on the organisational reality and the key crossroads within it, distinct from those identified internally.
This enables us to analyse the critical areas where intervention is essential to achieve tangible results.
What a business strategy is and how we support it with our strategic consulting
In our consulting work, one of the primary areas we analyse is business strategy, in order to gain a clear understanding of the direction the company is moving in.
Let us look at this more closely.
A business strategy represents the direction and long-term objectives pursued by an organisation to achieve a competitive advantage.
The strategy each business chooses determines the resources and means at its disposal to meet the needs of both markets and shareholders.
Often, these strategies encounter obstacles during implementation, even when backed by an excellent organisational design, effective operational models, and clearly defined processes and roles.
This happens when, alongside planning for the future, the organisation’s current state has not been effectively analysed and the critical junctions needed to smooth the path toward strategy execution have not been brought into focus.
This is precisely where we step in as strategic consultants.
Our consulting approach focuses on developing an in-depth analysis and co-designing a plan with the client to support the implementation of strategies that deliver results.
We work to connect every component of the business system involved in executing strategy on the ground.
And how do we achieve this? By sharing a clear vision, fostering engagement around the core purpose (the “why”), listening to doubts, welcoming feedback, and generating contributions to build the actions and behaviours that produce collective results.
Throughout any change process, “seeing” results is crucial because it builds and reinforces trust while generating energy.
However, achieving robust, lasting results requires dedicated space for consolidation. In this way, we can generate the energy and solid connections needed to bring strategic objectives to life.
Partnership and co-creation
Throughout this support programme, creating a strong, solid, and trust-based partnership is essential to seeing things as they truly are and embracing the diverse perspectives that consulting brings.
In delivering our consulting services, we guide clients through programmes where actions and processes are co-created, enabling the right, tailored changes for both the people and the results.
In our programmes, we do not replace managers; instead, we work alongside them, offering our perspective and potential solutions.
We know that change is neither linear, easy, nor immediate. That is precisely why, over the past 20 years, we have developed approaches and tools that accelerate the process, guided by core drivers of action:
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align
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share
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engage
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experiment
Through these drivers, we rekindle people’s energy, building and nurturing a virtuous circle of collaboration and mutual support that positively impacts the entire business system.
For us, implementing strategies means enabling everyone to participate actively in the process, contributing to it and taking ownership. This allows people to make a genuine contribution to delivering results, fostering wellbeing and positive energy.
Why effective strategic consulting is rarely just a matter of time
To turn a strategy into reality and head in a new direction, results must be visible in the short and medium term.
At the same time, it is vital to recognise that lasting results require time: when working to connect people, generate fresh energy, and discover new perspectives, time is needed to lay solid foundations that pave the way forward.
