Reasons to hire a product consultant: Offset staff leave time

Hello reader! This is the first in my new series of blog posts, "Reasons to hire a product consultant." Throughout this series, I'll explain real-world scenarios that are solid fits for bringing in product management help. And I'm starting with a very common workplace occurrence--staff leave time.

So why hire a product consultant when staff go on leave? Short answer:

1. Increased productivity

2. Happier teams

Product managers are busy people. We have crazy, brainy jobs. We have personal lives (hopefully). And we often have intellectual pursuits that keep us sharp in our problem-solving and forward-looking mindsets. So when life events--the kind that require extended personal or medical leave--occur, the effects are felt by an entire work team.

---

Option 1: Reassign the PM's primary tasks to other team members for the duration of the leave. (This is a common choice.)

Pros

• No additional staffing costs

• Team members may already be familiar with the tasks and subject matter

Cons

• Productivity is decreased as team members are pulled away from their regular work

• PMs fear being replaced by coworkers, having their work derailed, or being blamed for anything that goes wrong during their absence

• Senior management may put pressure on team members to work excessive hours for no additional pay

• Risk of turnover increases as a result of the items above

---

Option 2: Hire another permanent team member (e.g., associate PM).

Pros

• The new team member can continue to provide value, even after the PM returns from leave

• This may provide a lateral move or growth opportunity for an employee from another department, whereby the change to total staffing cost is minimized

Cons

• It may cause conflict when the PM returns, making it unclear which team member should handle tasks in the future or whether there is enough work for both people

• While the net staffing cost may not be affected, the department itself may not have enough budget for both team members

• Risk of turnover increases as a result of the items above

---

Option 3: Put the PM's work on hold until his/her return.

This is rarely an option, so I'm going to skip it.

---

Option 4: Bring in a product management consultant.

Pros

• Additional staffing costs are temporary and can be handled as offset expenses Example: Let's say the PM has a salary of $100,000 per year and will be on leave for three months at a 60% payout. Over those three months, instead of the standard $25,000, the PM will receive approximately $15,000 of leave pay. The difference of $10,000 may be allocated to consulting fees.

• The consultant's main focus can be to execute on the PM's plans, reducing the PM's fears of being replaced or having his/her work derailed

• The consultant gains expertise in the company and can be called in for future needs (e.g., filling in for additional absences, handling overflow work, serving in an advisory capacity, training new team members)

• Other team members have little additional burden placed on them, maintaining productivity and morale

Cons

• Some amount of ramp-up time may be needed Tip: If an absence is planned, bring the consultant in 1-2 weeks in advance to work directly with the PM. This greatly increases the consultant's chances of running at full speed once the absence begins.

• Additional consulting costs may be incurred for travel, equipment, or extended hours

As a side narrative, I'll mention another reason that your consultant can be a good long-term investment. Not all staff who go on leave will return (on time or at all). I've known former coworkers who decided to stay home after parental leaves, who needed additional time to grieve after caring for a terminally ill loved one, whose life events required them to move away, or who got recruited for other jobs while being on leave. Having a product management consultant as a partner during known absences gives you a reliable interim PM, if the person doesn't return and you suddenly have to look for a permanent hire.

Stay tuned for future posts in the series "Reasons to hire a product consultant."

---

Shameless plug: Ewell Consulting, LLC provides product management and business consulting services to the greater Kansas City and eastern Kansas region. Remote consulting is also available. Contact jen@ewellconsulting.com for any inquiries.