INSIGHT

Strategic transformation in uncertain times: Leveraging talent and technology

Stacy Litteral • April 7, 2025

Services: HR Consulting, Outsourced HR Services, Human Resources

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As a business owner, your head must be spinning with the shifting economic landscape and the unprecedented pressure to adapt and evolve. With the Trump administration’s flood of executive orders, challenges to programs such as DEI, and tariffs expected to disrupt global trade, you’re probably feeling the pressure to evaluate your entire operation. The human capital consulting market is particularly volatile due to these macro factors, creating both challenges and opportunities. 

While you might be tempted to make changes quickly, these decisions demand strategic consideration rather than a reactive response. Some business owners are already making moves such as cutting back on “non-essential” expenses or putting long term initiatives on hold.  And some businesses are ending engagements with trusted advisors, such as specialty contractors or consultants. 

While this may feel like the “low hanging fruit”, this approach will likely have significant unintended consequences.  Resilience in times of uncertainty is often rewarded while taking a more short-sighted approach can hamper long-term growth.  Seasoned HR consultants are especially adept at guiding businesses through critical transformations, providing valuable strategic and operational perspectives that are more critical now than ever. 

Strategic evolution: Building value through intentional change 

This is not the time to go it alone or “move fast and break things.” This is when you need a reliable partner who can chart a course and to steer your business to where it needs to be. Today’s CEOs face the dual challenge of transforming their business while maintaining performance—a balancing act that requires expert guidance. Let’s take a closer look at how. 

Make strategic evaluations, not reactive decisions 

When facing economic pressure, your initial instinct may be to cut costs. However, sustainable transformation requires a more nuanced approach than simply trimming headcount. 

Rather, you need to take a holistic view by conducting a thoughtful strategic evaluation that involves: 

• Analyzing your full cost structure objectively and comprehensively 
• Making decisions based on data and performance metrics 
• Understanding the downstream impacts of each potential change 
• Identifying opportunities for optimization that preserve core competencies 
• Keeping an eye on your key initiatives and being open to thinking outside of the box 

Skilled and experienced HR consultants have keen insights, identifying essential investments and opportunities to create efficiencies. Having an outside perspective – from an individual with exposure to deep and wide industry knowledge – provides an informed assessment that management often can’t deliver while focused on the day-to-day operations. 

Leverage policy shifts and regulatory changes 

The Trump administration’s initiatives are creating both challenges and opportunities for businesses. While reduced regulations around DEI and corporate compliance may offer more flexibility and an opportunity for savings, an abrupt change or elimination of these programs can impact how your customer, colleagues and community view and/or patronize your business. 

Rather than taking drastic action, consider what can and should be done to retain your high performers, refine your focus, and reinvest in who you are and what you do. 

Leaders need help understanding the legal implications and overall risks of swift organizational changes; HR consultants address these matters with skilled guidance that balances business objectives with best practices and legal considerations. 

“It’s not uncommon where a client has a course of action in mind and are committed to it.  We advise clients to slow down the conversation, analyze the data available, assess the risk of each individual (and the collective) decision and ultimately land on a revised plan that everyone can get on board with and is excited about. We serve as the bridge between business ambitions and ethical practice, ensuring that every decision is strategic versus emotional or rushed.” – Stacy Litteral – Partner, Advisory – HR Consulting 

Identify hidden opportunities for optimization and talent 

One of the most valuable contributions HR consultants make is spotting optimization opportunities that might be tough to see from the inside. Their specialized knowledge and methodologies allow them to: 

• Objectively evaluate team and individual performance using established benchmarks vs. relying on instincts or emotions.  
• Identify gaps that might be limiting productivity or innovation and provide resources for reskilling or retraining.
• Recommend technological solutions that can streamline and automate operations and reduce manual workloads. 
• Create data-driven compensation structures that align with market rates while controlling costs.
• Uncover hidden talent within your organization that may be underutilized or overlooked.

Additionally, the most valuable external HR consultants aren’t just one-and-done. They provide ongoing support during and after restructuring, building longer and deeper relationships with clients that enable sustained transformation.  

Balance reduction with retention 

Challenging times present opportunities for meaningful transformation.  But successful transformations don’t just cut costs — they assess and reallocate resources to maximize value with your values and culture in mind. This is where expert HR guidance becomes particularly crucial. 

Strategic HR consultants can help you: 

• Analyze existing skill inventories against future business needs to identify gaps and opportunities 
• Develop targeted reskilling programs to move existing employees into high-demand roles 
• Implement mentorship and knowledge-sharing programs that accelerate skill development and retain institutional knowledge 
• Foster AI literacy among employees to enhance productivity and drive business outcomes 

The right approach balances immediate financial needs with longer-term organizational health. The right HR consulting partner can uncover alternative delivery models that maintain your most essential functions while reducing fixed costs.  

Align for growth with strategic rightsizing 

When executed properly, organizational transformation doesn’t just weather current challenges — it establishes a more agile foundation for future growth. This forward-looking perspective is where HR consultants create lasting value. 

Strategic HR partners serve as architects of sustainable business evolution. They work closely with leadership to align workforce planning with long-term business strategy, ensuring that talent acquisition and development efforts support your company’s vision. By creating more efficient organizational structures that flex and scale with growth, they help eliminate bottlenecks and redundancies while retaining institutional knowledge. 

Beyond structural improvements, HR consultants develop new leadership capabilities throughout your organization. They identify emerging leaders, nurture their potential, and equip them with the skills to meet new challenges. This leadership development work is supported by performance management systems that sustain improvements over time, creating a culture of continuous growth and adaptation. 

Unleash the power of your people 

In good times or bad, your people remain your most valuable asset. Having an experienced and trusted HR consultant provides a vital resource to help you retain, revitalize, and reposition your team, regardless of the business climate. 

 That said, HR consultants specialize in bringing stability to unsteady times, helping build a resilient organizational structure, operational framework, and company culture. An experienced HR business consultant allows your employees to reach their highest potential by: 

• Cultivating employee growth paths — Personalized development plans that help team members advance their careers within your organization 
• Amplifying employee voices — Effective feedback systems that ensure your people feel heard and valued at every level of the organization 
• Enhancing workplace wellbeing — Programs that support mental health, work-life balance, and overall employee satisfaction 
• Fostering a sense of belonging — Initiatives that help all employees feel respected, supported, and empowered to contribute 
• Developing AI literacy and skills — Preparing your workforce to adapt to and thrive with emerging technologies 

Create a clear roadmap to navigate change 

Business owners in 2025 are facing a world of extraordinary uncertainty and anxiety. But this is also a time to take a strategic approach to transformation. 

The future of human capital consulting will increasingly involve the use of data and AI to create insights and integrated solutions. However, managing the integration of AI and your human workforce is a critical challenge that requires expert guidance. Effective implementation demands connected conversations that consider the human capital lens to help business investments deliver real impact. This means thinking about how AI investments will drive adoption, reward mechanisms, new skills, and career paths. 

Rather than viewing HR consultants as a line item, consider them your essential business partners. Their experience, objectivity, and specialized knowledge can mean the difference between random cost-cutting and setting up your company for sustainable success. With their help, you can develop metrics that align with your desired business impact and clearly articulate the value of transformation initiatives. This delivers measurable value that validates your investment in consulting services. 

Take the next step and move forward with BPM  

If you’re facing organizational changes or seeking ways to optimize your business in today’s challenging environment, BPM can help. Our team provides a complimentary initial assessment to identify specific opportunities for your organization. Contact BPM’s HR team to discuss your unique challenges and how we can help you transform them into opportunities.