July, 2015

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What Are The Best Management Consulting Books?

Steve Shu Consulting

There are four books that I recommend as core to the generic practice of consulting. These are: The McKinsey Way by Ethan Rasiel. Process Consultation by Edgar Schein (dry read). Flawless Consulting by Peter Block (optional and highly recommended for those coming from engineering versus consulting backgrounds). The Pyramid Principle:Logic In Writing and Thinking (for managers & consultants especially) by Barbara Minto.

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How Do You Discover Consulting Client Needs in Advance… and Should You?

David A Fields

A consultant asked me the following question: I’ve received an introduction to a prospect and have a meeting scheduled. How should I find out about their needs prior to the meeting? Beyond looking at their website, how do I get very specific information that will lead to a real working relationship? What advice would you give this consultant? Do you have a process for discovering needs before an initial meeting?

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Duke University undergrad prepares for BCG Interview Superday

Management Consulted

Ramit is a junior at Duke University who successfully aced his on campus interview. However, he did receive some puzzling feedback from his interviewers, leading him to contact Jenny Rae to guide him through how to use the input constructively for his final interview on site at BCG. Read on for some insightful answers as to how interviewers perceive your answers, how to communicate personality and relatability without coming across too informally, and developing rapport with your interviewer.

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Managing People on Projects and Programs

The Clever Consultant

Update 7/15: This is one of my favorite posts. Maybe its because I wrote it while 30,000 miles over Topeka. Or, I just like the way my early writing looks. Either way, I added #7 below. A few months back, somebody asked me what my favorite People Management Theory was. My first response: Is People […].

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PowerPoint Best Practices for Creating Stellar Presentations

Mastering data visualization in PowerPoint will help accelerate your career because it positions you as someone who can present data that drives business decisions forward. think-cell's PowerPoint Best Practices eBook was created specifically for professionals aiming to master the art and science of data-driven storytelling. What’s inside: Practical Insights: Uncover valuable tips for crafting engaging and persuasive presentations.

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Pie or Cake?

Tom Spencer

Strategy involves defending your slice of pie, or growing it bigger. Innovation involves saying, “hey, we have some pie, why don’t we bake a cake or some cookies to go with it.” Some companies spend so much time trying to get more pie, that they never get a chance to enjoy a second dish. Business (like life) should be enjoyed. What’s on your menu this month?

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My Behavioral Science, Design, and Business Book Reading List

Steve Shu Consulting

As I was gathering my thoughts for my Inside Nudging project ( www.InsideNudging.com ), a project that I envision tying together the application of behavioral science in business contexts and providing more of an inside look at innovation, strategy and implementation, I wanted to take stock of books that have probably influenced (liberally interpreted) the way I look at behavioral science.

Insurance 209
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How Do You Surface Larger Consulting Projects?

David A Fields

A consultant called me with the following question: I received an inbound inquiry (hooray!) from a prospect who wanted a very small project (boo!). What you term bread & butter work. When we talked on the phone I was sure there was a bigger opportunity, but was not sure how to steer the discussion. What should I have done differently to get the bigger project?

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Job Hub: Virgin Group Jobs and Culture

Management Consulted

Today we highlight tremendous business analyst and post-consulting leadership jobs at Virgin Group. Virgin Group, a leading international group, is one of the most recognized and respected brands in the world. This group has a startling 300 companies in its portfolio in sectors ranging from travel, telecommunications, health, financial services, leisure, music, space travel, and renewable energy.

Groups 122
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PMO Metrics: Simplifying Net Present Value (NPV)

The Clever Consultant

Whether you’re helping a client build a business case or, launching a strategic project, chances are you’ll need to get your hands dirty by calculating the Net Present Value (NPV) of their investment. The concept behind NPV is simple: cash in-hand today is more valuable than cash received next year, the year after that and […].

Metrics 113
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How to Stay Competitive in the Evolving State of Martech

Marketing technology is essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape — and with 53% of marketers experiencing legacy technology issues and limitations, they’re researching innovations to expand and refine their technology stacks. To help practitioners keep up with the rapidly evolving martech landscape, this special report will discuss: How practitioners are integrating technologies and systems to encourage information-sharing between departments and pr

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You, Humans and Life

Tom Spencer

When a baby is born it knows nothing about the world. So little, in fact, that it has no concept of self. The baby, its mother, and the world are one. As the baby grows it discovers the world for the first time. Hands, feet, pee, poop, mumma and dada. . The baby’s mother whispers “you are special!”, and the baby establishes a sense of self.

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Cyber Strategy Success

Chad Barr

This week’s reflection point: My clients often refer to me as their cyber strategist. So as I was reflecting about the essence of a successful cyber strategy it occurred to me that the acronym stands for: C ontent that is amazing and provokes others. Y ou have the biggest impact on your success. B reakthrough offerings and relationships. E volution of intellectual property and reduced stagnation.

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The Consulting Apprenticeship: A Valuable Resource for Starting As A Consultant

Steve Shu Consulting

Resources 150
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How Do You Balance Expert Language with Avoiding Jargon and Consulting-ese?

David A Fields

A consultant asked me the following question: How do you balance expert language with avoiding jargon and consulting-ese? What do you think? How do you manage your language given that, 1) we know there’s a direct correlation between vocabulary and perception of intelligence; 2) you have to present yourself as an authority, with deeper understanding of the subject than your prospects/clients; 3) you don’t want to be perceived as a double-speak consultant?

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Savings Consultants Are Needed in Today's Market More Than Ever

Savings Consultants are needed in today’s market more than ever. With an increase in expenses, businesses are looking for opportunities to save. Often unknown to businesses are savings in expense reduction, specialized tax savings, specialized savings including medical underpayments, health benefits cost reduction, zero cost processing, and more. Blue Coast Savings, with over 20 years in business, assists Savings Consultants in helping these companies move toward more profitable businesses.

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Thinking Like a Consultant: People Skills

Management Consulted

One of the best things about strategy consulting is that you get to work across a broad spectrum of industries , giving you exposure to a lot of the wonderful variety that exists around us in the business world. However, one of the most unnerving things about strategic consulting is that you’re supposed to be able to increase productivity across this very same landscape without respect to the size, type, and complexity of the client.

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HR Metrics: How to Calculate Cost Per Hire

The Clever Consultant

Cost Per Hire (CPH) is one of the most common HR metrics used to measure recruiting effectiveness. That’s because it’s insanely simple to calculate – just add up your total recruiting costs and divide them by number of new hires for a given period. CPH shouldn’t be used in a vacuum, though, as it doesn’t […].

Metrics 149
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Have An Idea?

Tom Spencer

If you are subscribed to this blog, then you either have an interest in management consulting, a passion for strategic thinking, or you just love reading along to see what I might come up with. This blog is invariable upbeat (with the exception of yesterday’s post, which was an unfortunate diversion, and comes with my apologies). But as you read this blog you may have found yourself thinking one of the following: I knew that; I have a better idea; or.

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Earning Your Thought Leadership

Chad Barr

This week’s reflection point: For years I have been saying that one of the key attributes of successful thought leaders is that they are prolific publishers of remarkable and provocative content and they consistently increase their body of work. Consequently, creating and leveraging your intellectual property (IP) is a proven approach to strengthening your thought leadership and your global reach.

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TOOLS and METHODOLOGIES for developing DECISION SUPPORT PACKAGES

This White Paper targets opportunities for Management to develop proficiency in the Decision Framing and Analyses element of input to Decision, & Risk Analyses for Major Project Funding Decisions.

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Bridging Organization Design and Performance

Kates Kesler

The economic recovery of 2010-2015 has triggered a number of high-profile mergers, but even more break-ups and spin-offs among large global companies, particularly those based in the US. Between 2012 and 2014 alone, Kraft, Royal Dutch Philips, Hewlett Packard, Ingersoll Rand, ConocoPhillips, Darden, and E-Bay agreed to split off substantial portions of their business in response to a groundswell of hostility toward underperforming diversified companies.

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How Should You Protect Your IP in Client Contracts?

David A Fields

A consultant emailed me the following question: Should I write something into my contracts or proposals to protect my intellectual property? My clients have me sign lengthy agreements protecting all of their assets and I’m wondering whether I should have my attorney draw up something similar to protect the processes and models I’ve developed. What would your advice to this consultant be?

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Sitting is the New Smoking – Bad for Your Body, Bad for Your Business

Women in Consulting

By: Joanna Nowak. I’m not exactly a raving fan of Mad Men or Don Draper, but I watched enough episodes to notice how in every episode almost all characters are engaged in a mindless activity which is detrimental to their health. Any guesses what it is? Smoking, of course. It’s stunning how that mindless habit was such a big part of our culture; yet it isn’t anymore.

Meeting 89
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Making the Switch - Nick Anderdon, Spayne Lindsay & Co.

freshminds

A new series for our Consulting Skills Hub - we’re bringing you first-hand experience and advice from people who have made the move out of big consultancies. After graduating in 2010, Nick started his career at an American financial consultancy before moving to Accenture for two years. He then made the switch away from consulting in 2013 to pursue his interests in M&A, and joined the financial advisory firm, Spayne Lindsay & Co.

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Why You Need to Use Case Studies in Sales and Marketing (and How to Start Now)

Case studies are proof of successful client relations and a verifiable product or service. They persuade buyers by highlighting your customers' experiences with your company and its solution. In sales, case studies are crucial pieces of content that can be tailored to prospects' pain points and used throughout the buyer's journey. In marketing, case studies are versatile assets for generating business, providing reusable elements for ad and social media content, website material, and marketing c

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Olswang – The name says it all

Tom Spencer

I recently had the dubious honour of meeting with two partners from London based law firm Olswang. Olswang is a firm which holds itself out to the market as being an expert in technology, media and telecommunications, and so I was quite looking forward to meeting them. Unfortunately, I was sadly disappointed. It was interesting to learn that, despite being apparent technology experts, the firm’s partners still use an old version of the Blackberry.

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Walking the Talk

Chad Barr

This week’s reflection point: It’s easy to give your clients advice. What’s more difficult is following it yourself. Admittedly, it can be challenging to “walk the talk” when it comes to doing the very things you tell your clients to do. But if you fail to implement your own strategies, why should your clients trust you?

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How Not to Sabotage Your Job Search

Henry DeVries

First, let me debunk the myth that the best way to market your career is to do good work. A myth is a traditional story that concerns supernatural events. Almighty Zeus, rewarding good and punishing evil from his court on Mount Olympus, was one myth the ancient Greeks used to explain [.

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Should You Travel to a Prospect on Your Own Dime?

David A Fields

A consultant called me yesterday with this question: A prospect called me out of the blue (hooray!) and what they need is exactly in my sweet spot and would be a decent size project (mid five-figures). They’ve told me they are also looking at other companies and hinted that they’ll want me to come in to meet with them and go through my approach. They’re halfway across the country, so travel expenses would definitely be involved.

Travel 163
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The Art of Remote Collaboration: How to Successfully Whiteboard with Remote Teams

Just because we're working with a distributed team doesn't mean we have to abandon time-tested tools and methods like whiteboarding. Digital look-alikes often cramp creativity and all but eliminate the humanity of shared interactions. Hardware solutions are also limiting and, of course, expensive and immobile. In an increasingly digital and remote-first world, it’s important for us to select tools and processes that allow us to mitigate if not eliminate the above problems.