Expert insights. Personalized for you.
I get it – making the move from employment to consulting is a big step. I know so many people who have agonised about the decision for a long time and still not made up their mind. And for those who have taken the leap, it’s exciting, but equally, it can be terrifying. And the common denominator for most people is self-doubt. MORE
It’s a common career trajectory: An employee becomes a front-line supervisor, then a manager, then a leader of leaders and then eventually an executive over a department or an even broader entity. From that perspective, leadership is leadership and executives merely have a larger scope and span of control. Despite common perception - executives are not simply managers with a broader scope and span of control. MORE
I keep getting questions about the future of SCCM Intune admin jobs. I got the similar questions during the last BITPro event. So I thought of writing about the SCCM job opportunities in future. I could see loads of job opportunities for SCCM admins in India and abroad because of Windows 10 migrations. Will SCCM […]. The post Future of SCCM ConfigMgr Intune Admin Jobs appeared first on Anoops. MORE
The number one way that really smart consultants get in the way of their own success is struggling with the fear that that they don't have what it takes. Despite years of education and experience they stay up at night wondering what is the best way to let their future clients know about how much they know and what they can bring to the table. They pursue certification after certification hoping that one of them will be the silver bullet that will make them irresistible in the marketplace. MORE
The hoshin kanri X-matrix makes my head hurt. I mean, kudos to the person who invented it for creating something so incredibly compact and information-dense. But I’m not sure it’s the easiest way to convey the information in the hoshin plan. Small dots in three locations on a spreadsheet with text running in two directions isn’t a recipe for easy digestion. image via kanbanize.com. (I I was gratified to learn from Katie Anderson that Toyota doesn’t use the X-matrix. MORE
The easiest time to raise your rate is on the cusp of something new — a new year, a new project, a new client. With the new year just a few weeks away, now might be the time. This article offers ideas of how to do this, as well as some sample language to use when notifying your clients. How to determine your new rate Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula. Instead, I suggest triangulating on a rate that seems fair. Look at several different numbers and then decide. MORE
Maybe it’s time to reconsider your marketing approach, particularly in your path to becoming a 7-figure consultant. While some people invest a lot of time into creating content or figuring out how to do advertising or speaking or going to a lot of trade shows, Barc Holmes of Coral Mountain Consulting has found an approach that works well for him. He is a master of not only building and nurturing, but strengthening relationships. Using his. MORE
Here are some thoughts on how consultants prepare for and handle these types of situations: Projections may be initially tested in safer settings. If projections end up being perceived as too wild or aggressive, it is better for this to happen in a working meeting or separate session before a “final” presentation is made. Following an iterative process and managing client expectations reduces risk for the consulting team. MORE
When it comes to consulting interviews, most people are fixated on the case interview. Which makes sense, given the amount of practice that’s required to ace the case. But, as an aspiring consultant, don’t forget that you will also face the Fit Interview! Fit Interviews can be very tricky because they require you to talk about yourself and your past experiences in a way that portrays you in the best possible light. MORE
Does the following give a pretty good picture of your current marketing activity? You have a website but you’re not really satisfied with it. You go to networking events once in a while. If someone asks you to give a talk, you’re happy to do it. You post on Facebook and/or LinkedIn semi-regularly. When you find the time, you send an article to those on your relatively small email list. You occasionally set up meetings with colleagues to explore opportunities. MORE
Dear Liz, I have a quick question. I know a consultant who is going to do some work designing a company’s program for high-potential employees. The consultant has talent but not much experience. What hourly rate would you consider low, fair, too high? Can you ballpark this for me? Louis Although the question is brief, a helpful answer is not. Pricing consulting services is notoriously difficult, particularly for self-employed consultants. MORE
Let’s look at how you can scale your consulting business. You’re in the position where you want to grow your consulting business. You want to create a lot more leverage. More freedom. More flexibility. So much so that your business can run to without your direct day-to-day involvement. Most consultants find they hold on to the stuff that they don’t need to be doing for far too long because they think that they can do. MORE
198 
As a self-employed consultant do you really need a website? I’m asked this a lot, particularly if a consultant gets most business from referrals or they contract through agencies or boutique firms. Besides, it’s highly unlikely that a prospective client is going to stumble upon your website and decide to hire you. Surely creating a website is a waste of time and money, right? MORE
Transcript: Today I’m going to talk about proposals, and three reasons as to why proposals are often not accepted, or why people encounter clients delaying on proposals, or deciding just not to move forward on them. There’s three reasons that are quite common, and we’re going to look at those here today. The first reason is that you’re not having a deep and meaningful consulting sales conversation. MORE
You probably spend more time working as a consultant than you spend in any other role in your life right now. Holey shmoley. Can that be true? Before and after your work day, you may focus on excelling as a partner, spouse, parent, friend, hockey coach, volunteer, or civic leader; however, roughly half your … Continued. The post 10 Ways to Have Fun in Consulting appeared first on David A. Fields. All Articles Consulting Consultants MORE
288 
There is a discussion brewing among contact center leaders about what to call the front-line employees who handle calls and other customer interactions. Historically they have been referred to as “agents” or “representatives.” But as customer experience takes a more prominent role and these employees become more strategic, those titles don’t go far enough. Contact center employee names are beginning to change to reflect a strategic shift. A 2017 poll from Call Centre Helper poll found MORE
120 It’s time to admit that one of my consulting approaches has failed. I’m a huge fan of Paul Akers’ 2 Second Lean philosophy. It’s simple, easy to understand, and has an intrinsic appeal: “fix what bugs you.” Figure out how to do your job two seconds faster each day.” Who wouldn’t sign on to a lean program that promotes that mindset? MORE
· ID 70396708 © Anastasiia Bobko | Dreamstime.com. Last August I wrote a blog post about how labels matter , specifically that you should make more money by calling yourself a consultant instead of a contractor. But it’s not just about labels and language. It’s not enough to simply replace contractor with consultant on your résumé and LinkedIn profile. I’ve been studying the LinkedIn profiles of various contractors and consultants I know and reflecting on how they usually get their work. MORE
You know the old adages about assumptions: “Assume makes an ass out of you and me,” and “Assume I’ll want chocolate when I visit, and you’ll be right,” and, of course, “Assume spelled sideways is almost masseuse.” Assumptions alleviate the strain on your brain. You needn’t ponder the melting point of olive oil because you … Continued. The post 7 Assumptions that Might Be Sabotaging Your Consulting Firm appeared first on David A. Fields. All Articles Consulting Consultants MORE
This post is reproduced from an answer that I wrote on Quora to the question posed to me, “Is Behavioral Economics Actually Used in Business?” ” Broad conscious, concerted efforts to apply behavioral economics probably did not begin until sometime after 2008 with the release of Thaler and Sunstein’s book, Nudge. And then when new applications of behavioral economics started, they seemed to be mostly applied in the government space. MORE
Happy 2018! Welcome to a year that contains the Winter Olympics happening in South Korea, the FIFA World Cup taking place in Russia, Mars’ close approach to earth, and the next royal wedding. Despite these historic events, we’re most excited … Continued. The post 2018 Management Consulting Salaries for Undergraduates, MBAs/PhDs, & Interns appeared first on Management Consulted. consulting jobs consulting salaries MORE
Half the spinning cycle of consulting is creating value for your clients. The other half is winning engagements.) If your consulting firm can add more value, you can win more projects from more clients at higher fees. So, let’s cover the ten best ways to add value to a consulting project. In consulting, as in … Continued. The post The 10 Best Ways for Your Consulting Firm to Add Value appeared first on David A. Fields. All Articles Consulting Consultants MORE
261 
There are days as a consultant when things are going wonderfully. You’ve got a lot of work in the pipeline. Your current projects are going well. And you pat yourself on the back for making such a smart decision by making the move to consultancy. And then a few things go wrong: A project has been delayed due to an issue at the client end and now it looks like you have a clash of timeframes with another project. Someone has alerted you to a problem with your website. MORE
You’re a consultant. You solve problems and give advice. Your wisdom and sagacity determine your to clients, and you are literally paid to announce your well-reasoned thoughts. And yet, in the pursuit of new clients, your most profitable course is to learn rather than to inform. Your genius is revealed by your questions, not your [ ] Consultants Consulting MORE
This post is based on an answer I wrote in response to a question posed to me on Quora, “What do choice architects do?” ” I wanted to repost my answer here because I still feel there is a lack of understanding about what it means to implement nudging and behavioral science within companies, and the role of choice architects are key. MORE
Introduction. Jack Welch, ex-Chairman and ex-CEO of General Electric once said, “If you don’t have a competitive advantage, don’t compete”. While this quote makes sense, organizations can always strive for opportunities to build new competitive advantage by investing passion, right strategic thinking, perseverance, and determination. However, while gaining competitive advantage is one thing, sustaining the advantage is quite another. MORE
Are you ready to scale and grow your consulting business? You’ve got a steady stream of projects. You’re well known in your industry. You may even be thinking about hiring someone to work with you. This is a time when many consultants feel like they are starting to hit a wall (or maybe you’re already smacked your head against it and are feeling a dizzying pain). You’re maxed out in terms of billing. You can. MORE
Communication, Presentation, and Persuasion – Using The Pyramid Principle to drive action What if we told you that there’s a better way to create and present your decks? One that will drive action and get you to the most important … Continued. The post The Pyramid Principle appeared first on Management Consulted. management consulting MORE
Consulting Success
AUGUST 30, 2018
Let’s look at how you can scale your consulting business. You’re in the position where you want to grow your consulting business. You want to create a lot more leverage. More freedom. More flexibility. So much so that your business can run to without your direct day-to-day involvement. Most consultants find they hold on to the stuff that they don’t need to be doing for far too long because they think that they can do.
Successful Independent Consulting
MAY 2, 2018
· ID 70396708 © Anastasiia Bobko | Dreamstime.com. Last August I wrote a blog post about how labels matter , specifically that you should make more money by calling yourself a consultant instead of a contractor. But it’s not just about labels and language. It’s not enough to simply replace contractor with consultant on your résumé and LinkedIn profile. I’ve been studying the LinkedIn profiles of various contractors and consultants I know and reflecting on how they usually get their work.
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David A Fields
NOVEMBER 13, 2018
You know the old adages about assumptions: “Assume makes an ass out of you and me,” and “Assume I’ll want chocolate when I visit, and you’ll be right,” and, of course, “Assume spelled sideways is almost masseuse.” Assumptions alleviate the strain on your brain. You needn’t ponder the melting point of olive oil because you … Continued. The post 7 Assumptions that Might Be Sabotaging Your Consulting Firm appeared first on David A. Fields. All Articles Consulting Consultants
Steve Shu Consulting
FEBRUARY 23, 2018
Here are some thoughts on how consultants prepare for and handle these types of situations: Projections may be initially tested in safer settings. If projections end up being perceived as too wild or aggressive, it is better for this to happen in a working meeting or separate session before a “final” presentation is made. Following an iterative process and managing client expectations reduces risk for the consulting team.
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
Every sales forecasting model has a different strength and predictability method. It’s recommended to test out which one is best for your team. This way, you’ll be able to further enhance – and optimize – your newly-developed pipeline. Your future sales forecast? Sunny skies (and success) are just ahead!
Successful Independent Consulting
DECEMBER 4, 2018
The easiest time to raise your rate is on the cusp of something new — a new year, a new project, a new client. With the new year just a few weeks away, now might be the time. This article offers ideas of how to do this, as well as some sample language to use when notifying your clients. How to determine your new rate Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula. Instead, I suggest triangulating on a rate that seems fair. Look at several different numbers and then decide.
Management Consulting Connection brings together the best content for management consulting professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
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Consulting Success
JANUARY 22, 2018
Transcript: Today I’m going to talk about proposals, and three reasons as to why proposals are often not accepted, or why people encounter clients delaying on proposals, or deciding just not to move forward on them. There’s three reasons that are quite common, and we’re going to look at those here today. The first reason is that you’re not having a deep and meaningful consulting sales conversation.
Markovitz Consulting
AUGUST 2, 2018
It’s time to admit that one of my consulting approaches has failed. I’m a huge fan of Paul Akers’ 2 Second Lean philosophy. It’s simple, easy to understand, and has an intrinsic appeal: “fix what bugs you.” Figure out how to do your job two seconds faster each day.” Who wouldn’t sign on to a lean program that promotes that mindset?
Jacq Hackett Consulting
JUNE 28, 2018
There are days as a consultant when things are going wonderfully. You’ve got a lot of work in the pipeline. Your current projects are going well. And you pat yourself on the back for making such a smart decision by making the move to consultancy. And then a few things go wrong: A project has been delayed due to an issue at the client end and now it looks like you have a clash of timeframes with another project. Someone has alerted you to a problem with your website.
Consulting Matters
NOVEMBER 6, 2018
It’s a common career trajectory: An employee becomes a front-line supervisor, then a manager, then a leader of leaders and then eventually an executive over a department or an even broader entity. From that perspective, leadership is leadership and executives merely have a larger scope and span of control. Despite common perception - executives are not simply managers with a broader scope and span of control.
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
Sales enablement is the strategic process of providing sales teams with the content, guidance, and mentorship needed to engage targeted buyers. It’s all about equipping sales professionals with the tools they need to put their best-selling foot forward. And if sales teams want to continuously sell better -- and faster -- their sales enablement process must have a game-winning strategy. It's time for you to start selling smarter - and hitting your sales number - with the best B2B database in the market. Get started today.
Management Consulted
JANUARY 7, 2018
Happy 2018! Welcome to a year that contains the Winter Olympics happening in South Korea, the FIFA World Cup taking place in Russia, Mars’ close approach to earth, and the next royal wedding. Despite these historic events, we’re most excited … Continued. The post 2018 Management Consulting Salaries for Undergraduates, MBAs/PhDs, & Interns appeared first on Management Consulted. consulting jobs consulting salaries
Anoop
JANUARY 2, 2018
I keep getting questions about the future of SCCM Intune admin jobs. I got the similar questions during the last BITPro event. So I thought of writing about the SCCM job opportunities in future. I could see loads of job opportunities for SCCM admins in India and abroad because of Windows 10 migrations. Will SCCM […]. The post Future of SCCM ConfigMgr Intune Admin Jobs appeared first on Anoops.
Tom Spencer
FEBRUARY 17, 2018
When it comes to consulting interviews, most people are fixated on the case interview. Which makes sense, given the amount of practice that’s required to ace the case. But, as an aspiring consultant, don’t forget that you will also face the Fit Interview! Fit Interviews can be very tricky because they require you to talk about yourself and your past experiences in a way that portrays you in the best possible light.
The More Clients Blog
AUGUST 20, 2018
Does the following give a pretty good picture of your current marketing activity? You have a website but you’re not really satisfied with it. You go to networking events once in a while. If someone asks you to give a talk, you’re happy to do it. You post on Facebook and/or LinkedIn semi-regularly. When you find the time, you send an article to those on your relatively small email list. You occasionally set up meetings with colleagues to explore opportunities.
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
This eBook highlights best practices for developing a pipeline management process that helps sales leaders and their team C.L.O.S.E (you’ll see what we mean in this eBook) more revenue through data-driven prospecting, stage analysis, and subsequent sales enablement.
Steve Shu Consulting
NOVEMBER 23, 2018
This post is based on an answer I wrote in response to a question posed to me on Quora, “What do choice architects do?” ” I wanted to repost my answer here because I still feel there is a lack of understanding about what it means to implement nudging and behavioral science within companies, and the role of choice architects are key.
Successful Independent Consulting
SEPTEMBER 13, 2018
As a self-employed consultant do you really need a website? I’m asked this a lot, particularly if a consultant gets most business from referrals or they contract through agencies or boutique firms. Besides, it’s highly unlikely that a prospective client is going to stumble upon your website and decide to hire you. Surely creating a website is a waste of time and money, right?
David A Fields
DECEMBER 11, 2018
You probably spend more time working as a consultant than you spend in any other role in your life right now. Holey shmoley. Can that be true? Before and after your work day, you may focus on excelling as a partner, spouse, parent, friend, hockey coach, volunteer, or civic leader; however, roughly half your … Continued. The post 10 Ways to Have Fun in Consulting appeared first on David A. Fields. All Articles Consulting Consultants
Consulting Success
OCTOBER 5, 2018
Are you ready to scale and grow your consulting business? You’ve got a steady stream of projects. You’re well known in your industry. You may even be thinking about hiring someone to work with you. This is a time when many consultants feel like they are starting to hit a wall (or maybe you’re already smacked your head against it and are feeling a dizzying pain). You’re maxed out in terms of billing. You can.
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
Businesses are laying off workers, shutting their doors (some permanently), and struggling to react to the radical destruction that coronavirus (COVID-19) is doing to our society and communities. However, there’s no team better suited to lead that charge than the marketing department.
Markovitz Consulting
SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
The hoshin kanri X-matrix makes my head hurt. I mean, kudos to the person who invented it for creating something so incredibly compact and information-dense. But I’m not sure it’s the easiest way to convey the information in the hoshin plan. Small dots in three locations on a spreadsheet with text running in two directions isn’t a recipe for easy digestion. image via kanbanize.com. (I I was gratified to learn from Katie Anderson that Toyota doesn’t use the X-matrix.
Jacq Hackett Consulting
JUNE 10, 2018
I get it – making the move from employment to consulting is a big step. I know so many people who have agonised about the decision for a long time and still not made up their mind. And for those who have taken the leap, it’s exciting, but equally, it can be terrifying. And the common denominator for most people is self-doubt.
Consulting Matters
JANUARY 8, 2018
The number one way that really smart consultants get in the way of their own success is struggling with the fear that that they don't have what it takes. Despite years of education and experience they stay up at night wondering what is the best way to let their future clients know about how much they know and what they can bring to the table. They pursue certification after certification hoping that one of them will be the silver bullet that will make them irresistible in the marketplace.
Management Consulted
OCTOBER 15, 2018
Communication, Presentation, and Persuasion – Using The Pyramid Principle to drive action What if we told you that there’s a better way to create and present your decks? One that will drive action and get you to the most important … Continued. The post The Pyramid Principle appeared first on Management Consulted. management consulting
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
Recent digital transformation has shifted the B2B landscape by ushering in the era of buyer empowerment. With more access to user reviews, analyst opinion, and industry research, decision-makers are more informed than ever while navigating what is now known as the “buyer’s journey.”
Sourcemap
NOVEMBER 29, 2018
The industry as a whole is embracing new opportunities—even as dangers lurk. Retail Insights
Tom Spencer
MARCH 24, 2018
Introduction. Jack Welch, ex-Chairman and ex-CEO of General Electric once said, “If you don’t have a competitive advantage, don’t compete”. While this quote makes sense, organizations can always strive for opportunities to build new competitive advantage by investing passion, right strategic thinking, perseverance, and determination. However, while gaining competitive advantage is one thing, sustaining the advantage is quite another.
Think Customers
AUGUST 6, 2018
There is a discussion brewing among contact center leaders about what to call the front-line employees who handle calls and other customer interactions. Historically they have been referred to as “agents” or “representatives.” But as customer experience takes a more prominent role and these employees become more strategic, those titles don’t go far enough. Contact center employee names are beginning to change to reflect a strategic shift. A 2017 poll from Call Centre Helper poll found
Steve Shu Consulting
APRIL 19, 2018
This post is reproduced from an answer that I wrote on Quora to the question posed to me, “Is Behavioral Economics Actually Used in Business?” ” Broad conscious, concerted efforts to apply behavioral economics probably did not begin until sometime after 2008 with the release of Thaler and Sunstein’s book, Nudge. And then when new applications of behavioral economics started, they seemed to be mostly applied in the government space.
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
As data continues to play a starring role in today’s B2B organizations, both marketing and sales operations professionals are poised to solidify their place as critical revenue drivers. In particular, the evolution of the Marketing Operations (Ops) role has created a new standard in marketing and has become a vital component of an organization’s success.
Successful Independent Consulting
APRIL 2, 2018
Dear Liz, I have a quick question. I know a consultant who is going to do some work designing a company’s program for high-potential employees. The consultant has talent but not much experience. What hourly rate would you consider low, fair, too high? Can you ballpark this for me? Louis Although the question is brief, a helpful answer is not. Pricing consulting services is notoriously difficult, particularly for self-employed consultants.
David A Fields
MARCH 6, 2018
You’re a consultant. You solve problems and give advice. Your wisdom and sagacity determine your to clients, and you are literally paid to announce your well-reasoned thoughts. And yet, in the pursuit of new clients, your most profitable course is to learn rather than to inform. Your genius is revealed by your questions, not your [ ] Consultants Consulting
Consulting Success
SEPTEMBER 3, 2018
Maybe it’s time to reconsider your marketing approach, particularly in your path to becoming a 7-figure consultant. While some people invest a lot of time into creating content or figuring out how to do advertising or speaking or going to a lot of trade shows, Barc Holmes of Coral Mountain Consulting has found an approach that works well for him. He is a master of not only building and nurturing, but strengthening relationships. Using his.
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