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6 Slip-Ups During a Consultation (And How to Fix Them)

We got you covered. Please don't mess it up!

It's the middle of the workday, and you're knee-deep in a meeting with your client when you suddenly remember you don't have any idea what they need. You probably needed to understand their goals and their corporate culture, perhaps working in the way you had thought might not fit their workflow.

Oops! Now what? If only there were a way to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen at all. Whether it is a meeting or an online consultation, all professionals might happen once in their career to commit blunders during the initial stages of working with a new client.

Since no one likes to find himself caught unprepared, much less make epoch-making blunders in front of potential clients, here is a brief vademecum with some of the missteps to avoid during a consultation. 

You're welcome.

You Ramble

Spice up your public speaking!

Rambling is a sign of nervousness, leading to losing credibility, time, and interest in the consultation.

It's important to remember that your customer has plenty on their mind already before they even walk through the door with you. They've probably got several things going on in their head at once:

  • What they need help with.
  • How much money do they want or can spend.
  • Whether they're willing to pay extra for better quality services, whether it's worth finding another provider to save them money, and so forth.

It's no wonder customers get riled up just thinking about all this stuff!

How to fix that:

It sounds like you need to improve your public speaking skills (Articolo 1), one of the essential skills for a successful consultant.

  • Gather information about your audience and write a speech made just for them.
  • Body language speaks more than your voice: learn to make eye contact, avoid reading a script, and take care of your posture.
  • Practice, practice, practice. Talk to the mirror and walk around the office, but practice your pitch until it comes naturally.

 

Overloading Your Speech With Too Much Information

Be concise!

When you're working on your pitch, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of your services and forget that your prospect may need to be more familiar with it. Don't overload them with too much information! They will start tuning out if all they hear are facts and figures about your work.

Don't talk too much about yourself, either. Make sure that what comes out of your mouth is more than just "I did this" and "I did that." 

You want them to feel like they're getting a real person who understands their needs and wants to help them achieve their goals, not just another salesperson telling them why buying from Company X would be better than Company Y (which happens often).

Yes, it's essential to let them know you're the best choice for their project and why. But how can they make an informed decision if they don't get a chance to talk about what they need or want from this project? 

How to fix that:

You can ask questions that show care and interest in your client's needs.

  • What is your biggest challenge right now?
  • How much do you know about our company? 
  • Tell me more about why you decided on this design.

These are all great ways of getting prospects talking so they can reveal themselves and hopefully hire you!

 

Being Unprepared

Be your client's #1 fan.

On the contrary, you may arrive unprepared for the meeting. I'm sure you've had the experience of being in a meeting or on a call with a client, and they start asking questions you don't have answers for. 

The most common reaction is to panic: "They're going to think I'm incompetent if I don't know what they're talking about!".

But there are more effective ways of dealing with the situation. 

How to fix that:

It's better to take some time before your consultation so that if someone asks something that's outside of your expertise (and let's face it, it happens), then you can respond confidently and effectively by saying, "I'm sorry, but this isn't something I know much about."

Sometimes, admitting you are not an expert in any field pays off much more.

You Don't Listen to Your Client and Their Needs

Stop talking!

A good consultation is a two-way street, and the client should feel like they are being listened to. Practice active listening; if you're not listening well, your client will feel like you don't care about their needs or problems and may not want to work with you. 

It's also important not to use distractions during consultations, like checking emails or looking at your phone, because it makes people uncomfortable when their conversations aren't focused on them alone. It can also hinder communication between both parties involved in these types of interactions.

How to fix that:

If someone is talking, don't interrupt them by asking questions that could have been answered by listening better (like "What do you mean?"). 

Instead, ask open-ended questions that encourage more detailed responses instead of yes/no answers (like "Tell me more about..."). 

Asking questions will help get them talking so they feel more comfortable sharing information with you.

You Don't Know How to Negotiate

Don't sell yourself short.

In a negotiation, you want to give the impression that you are giving away more than you are getting. Negotiating is easy if you have researched and know the other party's needs. For example, if they want something specific from their new website design, offer them something else, but make sure it's still relevant!

You also want to make sure to avoid getting stuck in an endless loop of negotiations; if one party can't agree on terms or constantly changes their mind, then it may be best to move on.

How to fix that:

Among all the misconceptions around negotiation skills, it's always good to master this skill if you are in the consulting business. 

Understand your value, your goals, and the client's needs. Then, learn to compromise without selling out your skills. 

Experience will do the rest.

Not Adding Your Personality to the Mix

Break the ice!

The last thing you want to do during a consultation is to be boring. You want your client to walk away feeling like they've met and gotten to know you on some level, even if it was just for 15 minutes. 

When the time comes for small talk, don't be afraid of being yourself!

Clients must get an idea of who works with or for them to see how well their personalities will fit together (and if there are any potential conflicts). You should also gauge whether this person will work well with others on your team by asking questions about what kinds of people they prefer working with.

How to fix that:

You might even consider giving examples from past projects where someone else has been involved or, even better yet: explain why certain aspects were successful or unsuccessful based on their skill set (s). 

And remember, don't forget about humour! Adding a little bit here and there will help break up any lulls in conversation while still letting them know how seriously we take our work ethic as well.

These are just some of the slips not to make during counselling. Although they seem like attitudes that could be overlooked, they often make the difference between a lousy meeting and a collaborative proposal.

First, excellent communication skills do most of the work, along with effective listening and thorough preparation before the meeting. 

Great communication will put you in a great position in front of the client, who will want to discuss the project with you and how you can bring value to their business. 

Finally, remember to put your personal touch on your work. The client will hire you for your skills, but your personality will make a difference.

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What Consulting Skills Are Most in Demand in 2023?

That's kind of a tricky question, right? It's true what they say, the future isn't written, but we at Conseasy like to get on with the job. 

The consulting industry, like all the job markets since the pandemic, is undergoing significant change, so much so that it's been predicted that some of the jobs available in 2030 have yet to be invented. 

Could you believe that?

The consulting industry would be deeply affected, and the roles and core skills consultants will need to succeed in 2023 are changing rapidly. 

To adapt, today's consultants must understand how to use new technologies, learn new skills, and apply them in different ways of working. They also need to be able to work remotely and even remotely manage teams based overseas or in different time zones.

There is no shortage of skills that you can learn and develop to help you stand out from the crowd. But with so many options available, what qualities make a good consultant these days? Below is a list of six core skills (plus one) that will have considerable value in consulting in 2023 and beyond.

1. Leadership: Get the Best of the People Around You (Even in Difficult Times)

If you're a consultant or want to become one, it might be time to look into your leadership skills. These skills will continue to be critical throughout the next decade and beyond; this means that if you want to make sure that your career will last long enough for you to retire on a beach somewhere, then it would be beneficial for you to learn about how best to use these skills at work now.

You need to be able to focus on the task at hand. You need to be able to manage your time well. You must think clearly under pressure and keep a positive attitude even when things get tough. 

Finally, and most importantly, you'll need to work well with others because no matter how good your ideas and advice are, they will only get implemented if you have the support of other team members.

2. Effective Communication: Sell Your Value 

To communicate effectively, you must be able to listen and speak clearly. Communication is essential in the consulting world because consultants work with people from all walks of life and many different countries.

If you're thinking, "What do public speaking or presentation skills have to do with consulting?" Well, not only are they essential in the business world, but they're also becoming more valuable for consultants. 

In 2023, consulting firms will increasingly seek consultants with public speaking or presentation skills. Communicating clearly and concisely will be essential when presenting your ideas to clients. And those presentations will be part of your job!

And be careful how you speak. Learn to be direct, concise, and straightforward. Work on removing the nagging "ums" and "ahs" that may have crept into your vocabulary. In addition to understanding the basics of effective communication, it helps if you can speak multiple languages and understand how body language affects how others perceive you. 

You'll need this, especially when working with international clients; it can help you connect better with those you have to deal with.

3. Time Management: You Own Your Time (Not the Opposite)

Time management skills are more critical than ever. As outsourcing and remote work become more prevalent, consultants will be tasked with taking on multiple projects at once. 

If you're prone to procrastination or your organizational skills let you down, now is the time to start working on it.

Here are some tips to help you improve your time management abilities:

  • Prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency. Know which projects or tasks require immediate attention, which can wait until later in the week or month, and which can be delegated to someone else entirely. 
    The less time spent on non-vital activities, the more effective an employee you'll be for clients!
  • Focus on one task at a time instead of multitasking between several things simultaneously. Multitasking may seem like an efficient way to get things done quickly. Still, studies show that it slows us down because our brains cannot simultaneously process information from multiple sources. As a result, we end up losing focus as we jump from task to task (not unlike when people multitask while driving).

4. Collaboration: Make Your Teamwork!

That's right. You can only be a good consultant if you collaborate with your clients, co-workers and, most importantly, yourself. Collaboration is part of the DNA of consulting because everyone gives something valuable to the process. For example, one might be better at research, another at writing and yet another at data analysis. Working together in a team creates the best possible outcome for the client.

In today's world of work, where teams are increasingly cross-functional and diverse, collaboration skills are more critical than ever before. 

From project management techniques like Agile methodologies which require frequent feedback loops between stakeholders across different functions within an organization, to team leadership strategies like Servant Leadership which emphasizes leading through service rather than authority, down through client management processes, where you need constant communication between your company practice manager who needs updates from their staff on progress each week, so they can inform their boss who reports directly back to their board members once every quarter. 

Collaboration is key!

5. Data Storytelling: Engage With Numbers

"Data is king", or so they say. 

It's become a mantra of business leaders and analysts alike, the one thing that will save us from the world's troubles (or at least make our problems more manageable). 

But while data is important, it's not the whole story. The ability to tell a story through data is becoming increasingly important to business leaders who want to justify investments in digitalization. 

Data itself may be cold and impersonal, but stories can connect people on an emotional level, which makes them much more memorable than spreadsheets full of numbers ever could be.

6. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: it's All About Perspectives

Critical thinking and problem-solving are two of the most in-demand consulting skills. Thinking critically about complex problems is essential for every consulting firm since it allows consultants to devise innovative solutions to clients' most pressing issues.

Problem-solving requires you to look at an issue from all angles, which can be particularly helpful for clients who have worked on a specific problem for some time without success. And if you can solve that problem creatively, you've made yourself indispensable!

+1 Creativity: Get the Brain Wheels Turning!

And that's our "plus one": Creativity!

Most of the time, consultants are expected to generate ideas and solutions that break new ground. Thinking outside the box may sound simple enough, but it takes a lot of thought and effort.

It's not just "thinking outside the box"; it's about coming up with solutions that solve problems better than others have. You see, sometimes we get stuck in loops of thinking or believing that there's only one way out of our current situation (which is why sometimes people say they've been "in a rut"). 

To be creative means breaking these patterns so we can find new solutions instead of falling back on old ones every time we see an obstacle or challenge!

The Most Valuable Consulting Skills in 2023

To sum up, we think that the core consulting skills in 2023 will be:

  • The ability to practice leadership, even in tough times.
  • Being able to communicate concisely and confidently when presenting your recommendations.
  • Knowing how to manage your time productively.
  • Being able to collaborate and work profitably with people.
  • The ability to tell stories through data.
  • Developing critical thinking and excellent problem-solving skills
  • Working with an innovative and creative approach.

As the consulting industry changes, so will the skills required of consultants. In 2023, some consulting jobs are no longer in demand, and the industry will deliver new job titles that require different skill sets.

So, if you're into consulting or looking for a career in consulting and want to stay ahead of the curve as we move into this upcoming decade, it's essential to understand how to improve yourself even more. 

It will benefit you and your career, and your clients will see in you a professional they can rely on even in the most challenging projects.

 

6 Slip-Ups During a Consultation (And How to Fix Them)

We got you covered. Please don't mess it up!

It's the middle of the workday, and you're knee-deep in a meeting with your client when you suddenly remember you don't have any idea what they need. You probably needed to understand their goals and their corporate culture, perhaps working in the way you had thought might not fit their workflow.

Oops! Now what? If only there were a way to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen at all. Whether it is a meeting or an online consultation, all professionals might happen once in their career to commit blunders during the initial stages of working with a new client.

Since no one likes to find himself caught unprepared, much less make epoch-making blunders in front of potential clients, here is a brief vademecum with some of the missteps to avoid during a consultation. 

You're welcome.

You Ramble

Spice up your public speaking!

Rambling is a sign of nervousness, leading to losing credibility, time, and interest in the consultation.

It's important to remember that your customer has plenty on their mind already before they even walk through the door with you. They've probably got several things going on in their head at once:

  • What they need help with.
  • How much money do they want or can spend.
  • Whether they're willing to pay extra for better quality services, whether it's worth finding another provider to save them money, and so forth.

It's no wonder customers get riled up just thinking about all this stuff!

How to fix that:

It sounds like you need to improve your public speaking skills (Articolo 1), one of the essential skills for a successful consultant.

  • Gather information about your audience and write a speech made just for them.
  • Body language speaks more than your voice: learn to make eye contact, avoid reading a script, and take care of your posture.
  • Practice, practice, practice. Talk to the mirror and walk around the office, but practice your pitch until it comes naturally.

 

Overloading Your Speech With Too Much Information

Be concise!

When you're working on your pitch, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of your services and forget that your prospect may need to be more familiar with it. Don't overload them with too much information! They will start tuning out if all they hear are facts and figures about your work.

Don't talk too much about yourself, either. Make sure that what comes out of your mouth is more than just "I did this" and "I did that." 

You want them to feel like they're getting a real person who understands their needs and wants to help them achieve their goals, not just another salesperson telling them why buying from Company X would be better than Company Y (which happens often).

Yes, it's essential to let them know you're the best choice for their project and why. But how can they make an informed decision if they don't get a chance to talk about what they need or want from this project? 

How to fix that:

You can ask questions that show care and interest in your client's needs.

  • What is your biggest challenge right now?
  • How much do you know about our company? 
  • Tell me more about why you decided on this design.

These are all great ways of getting prospects talking so they can reveal themselves and hopefully hire you!

 

Being Unprepared

Be your client's #1 fan.

On the contrary, you may arrive unprepared for the meeting. I'm sure you've had the experience of being in a meeting or on a call with a client, and they start asking questions you don't have answers for. 

The most common reaction is to panic: "They're going to think I'm incompetent if I don't know what they're talking about!".

But there are more effective ways of dealing with the situation. 

How to fix that:

It's better to take some time before your consultation so that if someone asks something that's outside of your expertise (and let's face it, it happens), then you can respond confidently and effectively by saying, "I'm sorry, but this isn't something I know much about."

Sometimes, admitting you are not an expert in any field pays off much more.

You Don't Listen to Your Client and Their Needs

Stop talking!

A good consultation is a two-way street, and the client should feel like they are being listened to. Practice active listening; if you're not listening well, your client will feel like you don't care about their needs or problems and may not want to work with you. 

It's also important not to use distractions during consultations, like checking emails or looking at your phone, because it makes people uncomfortable when their conversations aren't focused on them alone. It can also hinder communication between both parties involved in these types of interactions.

How to fix that:

If someone is talking, don't interrupt them by asking questions that could have been answered by listening better (like "What do you mean?"). 

Instead, ask open-ended questions that encourage more detailed responses instead of yes/no answers (like "Tell me more about..."). 

Asking questions will help get them talking so they feel more comfortable sharing information with you.

You Don't Know How to Negotiate

Don't sell yourself short.

In a negotiation, you want to give the impression that you are giving away more than you are getting. Negotiating is easy if you have researched and know the other party's needs. For example, if they want something specific from their new website design, offer them something else, but make sure it's still relevant!

You also want to make sure to avoid getting stuck in an endless loop of negotiations; if one party can't agree on terms or constantly changes their mind, then it may be best to move on.

How to fix that:

Among all the misconceptions around negotiation skills, it's always good to master this skill if you are in the consulting business. 

Understand your value, your goals, and the client's needs. Then, learn to compromise without selling out your skills. 

Experience will do the rest.

Not Adding Your Personality to the Mix

Break the ice!

The last thing you want to do during a consultation is to be boring. You want your client to walk away feeling like they've met and gotten to know you on some level, even if it was just for 15 minutes. 

When the time comes for small talk, don't be afraid of being yourself!

Clients must get an idea of who works with or for them to see how well their personalities will fit together (and if there are any potential conflicts). You should also gauge whether this person will work well with others on your team by asking questions about what kinds of people they prefer working with.

How to fix that:

You might even consider giving examples from past projects where someone else has been involved or, even better yet: explain why certain aspects were successful or unsuccessful based on their skill set (s). 

And remember, don't forget about humour! Adding a little bit here and there will help break up any lulls in conversation while still letting them know how seriously we take our work ethic as well.

These are just some of the slips not to make during counselling. Although they seem like attitudes that could be overlooked, they often make the difference between a lousy meeting and a collaborative proposal.

First, excellent communication skills do most of the work, along with effective listening and thorough preparation before the meeting. 

Great communication will put you in a great position in front of the client, who will want to discuss the project with you and how you can bring value to their business. 

Finally, remember to put your personal touch on your work. The client will hire you for your skills, but your personality will make a difference.

7 Signs That Tell You It's Time to Hire a Consultant

If you're running your own business, it's easy to think you can do everything alone. But as your company grows, you might be overwhelmed by the demands of running many projects and managing staff simultaneously. 

In these circumstances, someone can solve the issues internally. But in some cases, the signs are that hiring an external consultant (Articolo 2) who can best deal with all the problems mining your business is better.

But why look for external consultancy? Looking for consultancy services can be a great way to relieve some of the stress and allow you to focus on what matters most: growing your business.

Sure, you heard about hiring a consultant's importance, but what does that mean? What is a consultant, and why do you need one? 

A consultant has experience in your industry and can help guide your business. Let's put it this way: it's the right pro at the right time. But how do you know when to hire one? 

Let's discuss together the top seven reasons why it is time for you to visit a consulting marketplace and look for a business consultant.

 

You Need a Fresh Pair of Eyes Looking at Your Business

The best time to hire a consultant is when you need someone looking at your business with fresh eyes. 

You may be so close to your company's day-to-day operations and details that it's hard for you to see what could be improved or changed. A consultant will help identify, with an objective point of view of the matter, areas where your business needs to change, which can lead to better service delivery, higher profit margins, and more satisfied customers.

A consultant can also offer advice on how best to implement changes within your organization so that they stick long-term. Something that might not come naturally when working solo or in small teams where everyone knows each other well (and has been working together for years).

 

You've Got a Lot on Your Plate

When you're overwhelmed and stressed, seeing the forest for the trees can be difficult. You might feel like there's no way out of your situation. But if you're feeling this way, it's time to step back and ask yourself: "What do I need help with?".

Someone else could handle one or more tasks in your workload more efficiently than you can or even just as well as you. If so, delegate! Delegating will free up time for things they may not have been able to do before (like learning new skills).

You also need to learn to rank tasks based on importance rather than urgency; otherwise, all urgent things will always win out over important ones because they're so critical! Finally, learn how to say no or delegate when necessary; remember that saying yes too often means saying no too little later on when there aren't enough hours in our day/week/month/year. 

Set boundaries around what projects matter most now versus what can wait until later.

You're Trying to Expand Your Business but Don't Know Where to Start

If you're trying to expand your business but need help figuring out where to start, a strategic business consultant can help. They'll tell you what will work and what won't, which ideas are good and bad, and how best to prioritize tasks.

You may feel like this is something that only other people need help with but trust us: no one knows your business better than you do. Furthermore, your employees have their jobs and responsibilities; you can't expect them to support you in this kind of task while they are busy doing the work you pay them to do (unless they happen not only have been in business for years but also studied management).

 

Your Current Marketing Strategy Isn't Working

If your marketing strategy isn't working, it's time to consider hiring a consultant. Of course, social media and marketing are great tools for getting new customers. Still, if you need to be using them effectively or reaching the wrong audience with your advertisements, that's a sign that your marketing strategy needs updating. 

For example:

  • If most of your posts go unnoticed by followers, they don't comment or share them.
  • If people aren't clicking on post links or visiting other websites.
  • If there are no conversions on your websites.

From promotion to any strategy or methodology in your business, listening to the advice of an external professional could help you adopt a new approach and new ideas that have never been tried before.

Your Internal Audit Has Revealed Some Issues That Need Resolving

If your company has any internal audit, then it's likely that your team has already identified some areas for improvement. Yet, if this is different from the case and you want to know where your organization stands, an external consultant can help.

An internal audit involves evaluating how well current processes and procedures are working within an organization. It also provides a basis for improvement by identifying problems in specific areas or areas where improvement is needed but needs to be yet being addressed (e.g., not enough training).

If your internal analyses have revealed points of improvement, but you have realized that you need to learn how to implement them, this is where the work of a professional in counselling comes in!

 

You'd Like to Restructure Your Organization but Don't Know How

If you're feeling stuck in your organization and want to do things differently but need to know how a consultant can provide a fresh perspective on how to get it right. They'll help you restructure your organization so everyone's on the same page.

Providing a new way to see your internal organization is particularly important if there are problems with communication or collaboration in your office. It happens to everyone at some point.

For example, if some people need to work together better because of conflicting goals or different personalities. A consultant will help guarantee everyone understands their role within the company structure and why it matters to them (and everyone else).

 

Industry Trends Aren't Favorable, and You're Not Sure What to Do About It

If your industry is changing and you're sceptical about keeping up with it, a consultant can help.

If you're in an industry where trends are shifting, and there's no way of knowing which way they'll go next, a consultant can help you stay on top by providing insight into what's happening in your market now and what might happen later. 

If you have limited time or resources for research and analysis (or both), hiring someone whose job is to gather information on these topics may be preferable over trying to do it yourself.

Remember:

  • Employee relations are a crucial part of any successful business.
  • It can be hard to find good employees and even harder to keep them once you've found them.
  • You must treat your employees well, or they will leave, and taking on new ones is expensive!
  • Your business depends on these people. They're the key to success.

 

So, How Do You Know if You Need a Consultant?

The following are some of the most common reasons why you need to hire a consultant:

  • You need a new vision of how your business is going.
  • You need to build a new online marketing strategy to expand your business.
  • You want to improve, to change. As simple as that!
  • It doesn't just happen to you: every business at some point needs some backup! 

A consultant can provide fresh perspectives, new ideas and insights into how best to approach your challenges.

It doesn't matter if you're looking for someone specialising in marketing or human resources. Consultants are experts at what they do and will work with you to find solutions within your budget and timeframe.

3 Benefits of Hiring an External Consultant

When you're in the middle of a project, with deadlines approaching and scope creep getting out of hand, hiring someone to do what you're currently doing can be tempting. 

Hiring someone from scratch can be problematic for several reasons. First, if you don't have any experience managing that type of person or project, your first attempt may be disastrous. And even if it isn't that bad, they will likely have some preferences or habits that might not fit with your or your team's culture (and those things can make working together less fun).

At times of intense work or change within your company, you will likely need the experience and help of an external consultant. 

Hiring an external consultant differs from an employee and brings several benefits. First, they ensure your project meets its goals and timelines, not just that the work gets done well enough. They'll likely have more experience managing projects like yours than anyone on your team. In addition, they're used to working with people from diverse backgrounds who come from different companies and industries.

If you're looking to hire one for your company, you've probably heard of some of the benefits of hiring an external consultant. But it can have to learn understand why hiring them would be worth the money if you need to know what a consultant is and what they do. 

 

What Is an External Consultant?

An external consultant is a person who provides professional advice and guidance to an organisation. 

They're hired from outside the company and work with you for a period, while internal consultants are full-time staff who dedicate wholly to the evolution of a company. External consultants are hired outside the organisation, often by another department (such as HR) or an external client contracted with you for service delivery (such as software development). 

External consultants can provide fresh perspectives on problems because they are less familiar with your culture or industry than internal employees would be. We'll go through 3 main benefits of why hiring an external consultant can benefit your business, and that will help you figure out if an external consultant is the pro you're looking for.

Skills and Expertise

Let's pretend you're a large organisation's CEO and have an important decision to make. You need to hire someone to head up your marketing department, and you're considering two candidates:

  • Candidate A, who has been working in marketing for years, but has never actually managed people before (and doesn't seem that keen on doing so)
  • Candidate B has managed other departments and successfully led them through several projects without hiccups.

What would you choose? Would you risk hiring someone who could learn in the field but can't handle your project?

Skills and expertise are the value you are bringing to your company by hiring an outside consultant, and thanks to those skills, your business will make the difference in completing a project or solving your problem.

If you don't have internal competencies, it makes sense for you to hire a highly skilled consultant who already knows how best to complete the task. 

Innovative and Fresh Input

When you hire an external consultant, they will bring a new perspective on your business. 

Employees of a company find it challenging to quickly identify flaws in how they conduct business because staying too long with one company prevents you from seeing the big picture. The cause may be sentimental or the fading of a strict, professional demeanour. However, external consultants are impartial. They can identify the issues and causes preventing the organisation's advancement. Sometimes getting a clear picture of what's happening requires an outsider's perspective.

Consultants are experts in their field, have a proven track record of successful projects and can communicate effectively. The client should feel comfortable working with the consultant, and their team of external consultants can also help your business to grow. 

They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, which they can share with staff at all levels, helping them to develop new skills and improve their performance.

Not that internal employees are always wrong. Often, their ideas are innovative, and they have great insights into their systems. It can be challenging to see what's happening because they have a stake in the company's future.

 

Save Money

The first benefit is getting a professional for a fraction of the cost. Hiring an external consultant will save you money in two ways: first, they can often provide services at a lower rate than internal employees. 

Second, external consultants are more affordable than hiring full-time employees. For example, if your company has been growing rapidly and needs help with marketing but doesn't have much capital, hiring an external consultant might be the perfect solution for finding someone who knows what they're doing while keeping costs low enough to not interfere with growth (or even start making money).

 

There Are Many Benefits to Hiring an External Consultant

There are many benefits to hiring an external consultant. Here are our top 3:

  • You get to hire a professional with experience in your field and knowledge of what they're doing. If you want someone with expertise but don't want to pay them full-time wages, hiring an external consultant is the way to go!
  • An external consultant benefits from introducing innovation and a new point of view to the company. They can analyse the issue as an external professional without bias that could interfere with the success of the analysis. 
  • As for economic issues, an external consultant could be an excellent economic investment. As opposed to hiring a full-time employee, a consultant will only be employed in your company for a specific period, as they will only work on particular projects or consultancies.

We hope this article has helped you understand the benefits of hiring an external consultant. However, if you're still need clarification, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about our services.

What Consulting Skills Are Most in Demand in 2023?

That's kind of a tricky question, right? It's true what they say, the future isn't written, but we at Conseasy like to get on with the job. 

The consulting industry, like all the job markets since the pandemic, is undergoing significant change, so much so that it's been predicted that some of the jobs available in 2030 have yet to be invented. 

Could you believe that?

The consulting industry would be deeply affected, and the roles and core skills consultants will need to succeed in 2023 are changing rapidly. 

To adapt, today's consultants must understand how to use new technologies, learn new skills, and apply them in different ways of working. They also need to be able to work remotely and even remotely manage teams based overseas or in different time zones.

There is no shortage of skills that you can learn and develop to help you stand out from the crowd. But with so many options available, what qualities make a good consultant these days? Below is a list of six core skills (plus one) that will have considerable value in consulting in 2023 and beyond.

1. Leadership: Get the Best of the People Around You (Even in Difficult Times)

If you're a consultant or want to become one, it might be time to look into your leadership skills. These skills will continue to be critical throughout the next decade and beyond; this means that if you want to make sure that your career will last long enough for you to retire on a beach somewhere, then it would be beneficial for you to learn about how best to use these skills at work now.

You need to be able to focus on the task at hand. You need to be able to manage your time well. You must think clearly under pressure and keep a positive attitude even when things get tough. 

Finally, and most importantly, you'll need to work well with others because no matter how good your ideas and advice are, they will only get implemented if you have the support of other team members.

2. Effective Communication: Sell Your Value 

To communicate effectively, you must be able to listen and speak clearly. Communication is essential in the consulting world because consultants work with people from all walks of life and many different countries.

If you're thinking, "What do public speaking or presentation skills have to do with consulting?" Well, not only are they essential in the business world, but they're also becoming more valuable for consultants. 

In 2023, consulting firms will increasingly seek consultants with public speaking or presentation skills. Communicating clearly and concisely will be essential when presenting your ideas to clients. And those presentations will be part of your job!

And be careful how you speak. Learn to be direct, concise, and straightforward. Work on removing the nagging "ums" and "ahs" that may have crept into your vocabulary. In addition to understanding the basics of effective communication, it helps if you can speak multiple languages and understand how body language affects how others perceive you. 

You'll need this, especially when working with international clients; it can help you connect better with those you have to deal with.

3. Time Management: You Own Your Time (Not the Opposite)

Time management skills are more critical than ever. As outsourcing and remote work become more prevalent, consultants will be tasked with taking on multiple projects at once. 

If you're prone to procrastination or your organizational skills let you down, now is the time to start working on it.

Here are some tips to help you improve your time management abilities:

  • Prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency. Know which projects or tasks require immediate attention, which can wait until later in the week or month, and which can be delegated to someone else entirely. 
    The less time spent on non-vital activities, the more effective an employee you'll be for clients!
  • Focus on one task at a time instead of multitasking between several things simultaneously. Multitasking may seem like an efficient way to get things done quickly. Still, studies show that it slows us down because our brains cannot simultaneously process information from multiple sources. As a result, we end up losing focus as we jump from task to task (not unlike when people multitask while driving).

4. Collaboration: Make Your Teamwork!

That's right. You can only be a good consultant if you collaborate with your clients, co-workers and, most importantly, yourself. Collaboration is part of the DNA of consulting because everyone gives something valuable to the process. For example, one might be better at research, another at writing and yet another at data analysis. Working together in a team creates the best possible outcome for the client.

In today's world of work, where teams are increasingly cross-functional and diverse, collaboration skills are more critical than ever before. 

From project management techniques like Agile methodologies which require frequent feedback loops between stakeholders across different functions within an organization, to team leadership strategies like Servant Leadership which emphasizes leading through service rather than authority, down through client management processes, where you need constant communication between your company practice manager who needs updates from their staff on progress each week, so they can inform their boss who reports directly back to their board members once every quarter. 

Collaboration is key!

5. Data Storytelling: Engage With Numbers

"Data is king", or so they say. 

It's become a mantra of business leaders and analysts alike, the one thing that will save us from the world's troubles (or at least make our problems more manageable). 

But while data is important, it's not the whole story. The ability to tell a story through data is becoming increasingly important to business leaders who want to justify investments in digitalization. 

Data itself may be cold and impersonal, but stories can connect people on an emotional level, which makes them much more memorable than spreadsheets full of numbers ever could be.

6. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: it's All About Perspectives

Critical thinking and problem-solving are two of the most in-demand consulting skills. Thinking critically about complex problems is essential for every consulting firm since it allows consultants to devise innovative solutions to clients' most pressing issues.

Problem-solving requires you to look at an issue from all angles, which can be particularly helpful for clients who have worked on a specific problem for some time without success. And if you can solve that problem creatively, you've made yourself indispensable!

+1 Creativity: Get the Brain Wheels Turning!

And that's our "plus one": Creativity!

Most of the time, consultants are expected to generate ideas and solutions that break new ground. Thinking outside the box may sound simple enough, but it takes a lot of thought and effort.

It's not just "thinking outside the box"; it's about coming up with solutions that solve problems better than others have. You see, sometimes we get stuck in loops of thinking or believing that there's only one way out of our current situation (which is why sometimes people say they've been "in a rut"). 

To be creative means breaking these patterns so we can find new solutions instead of falling back on old ones every time we see an obstacle or challenge!

The Most Valuable Consulting Skills in 2023

To sum up, we think that the core consulting skills in 2023 will be:

  • The ability to practice leadership, even in tough times.
  • Being able to communicate concisely and confidently when presenting your recommendations.
  • Knowing how to manage your time productively.
  • Being able to collaborate and work profitably with people.
  • The ability to tell stories through data.
  • Developing critical thinking and excellent problem-solving skills
  • Working with an innovative and creative approach.

As the consulting industry changes, so will the skills required of consultants. In 2023, some consulting jobs are no longer in demand, and the industry will deliver new job titles that require different skill sets.

So, if you're into consulting or looking for a career in consulting and want to stay ahead of the curve as we move into this upcoming decade, it's essential to understand how to improve yourself even more. 

It will benefit you and your career, and your clients will see in you a professional they can rely on even in the most challenging projects.

 

6 Slip-Ups During a Consultation (And How to Fix Them)

We got you covered. Please don't mess it up!

It's the middle of the workday, and you're knee-deep in a meeting with your client when you suddenly remember you don't have any idea what they need. You probably needed to understand their goals and their corporate culture, perhaps working in the way you had thought might not fit their workflow.

Oops! Now what? If only there were a way to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen at all. Whether it is a meeting or an online consultation, all professionals might happen once in their career to commit blunders during the initial stages of working with a new client.

Since no one likes to find himself caught unprepared, much less make epoch-making blunders in front of potential clients, here is a brief vademecum with some of the missteps to avoid during a consultation. 

You're welcome.

You Ramble

Spice up your public speaking!

Rambling is a sign of nervousness, leading to losing credibility, time, and interest in the consultation.

It's important to remember that your customer has plenty on their mind already before they even walk through the door with you. They've probably got several things going on in their head at once:

  • What they need help with.
  • How much money do they want or can spend.
  • Whether they're willing to pay extra for better quality services, whether it's worth finding another provider to save them money, and so forth.

It's no wonder customers get riled up just thinking about all this stuff!

How to fix that:

It sounds like you need to improve your public speaking skills (Articolo 1), one of the essential skills for a successful consultant.

  • Gather information about your audience and write a speech made just for them.
  • Body language speaks more than your voice: learn to make eye contact, avoid reading a script, and take care of your posture.
  • Practice, practice, practice. Talk to the mirror and walk around the office, but practice your pitch until it comes naturally.

 

Overloading Your Speech With Too Much Information

Be concise!

When you're working on your pitch, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of your services and forget that your prospect may need to be more familiar with it. Don't overload them with too much information! They will start tuning out if all they hear are facts and figures about your work.

Don't talk too much about yourself, either. Make sure that what comes out of your mouth is more than just "I did this" and "I did that." 

You want them to feel like they're getting a real person who understands their needs and wants to help them achieve their goals, not just another salesperson telling them why buying from Company X would be better than Company Y (which happens often).

Yes, it's essential to let them know you're the best choice for their project and why. But how can they make an informed decision if they don't get a chance to talk about what they need or want from this project? 

How to fix that:

You can ask questions that show care and interest in your client's needs.

  • What is your biggest challenge right now?
  • How much do you know about our company? 
  • Tell me more about why you decided on this design.

These are all great ways of getting prospects talking so they can reveal themselves and hopefully hire you!

 

Being Unprepared

Be your client's #1 fan.

On the contrary, you may arrive unprepared for the meeting. I'm sure you've had the experience of being in a meeting or on a call with a client, and they start asking questions you don't have answers for. 

The most common reaction is to panic: "They're going to think I'm incompetent if I don't know what they're talking about!".

But there are more effective ways of dealing with the situation. 

How to fix that:

It's better to take some time before your consultation so that if someone asks something that's outside of your expertise (and let's face it, it happens), then you can respond confidently and effectively by saying, "I'm sorry, but this isn't something I know much about."

Sometimes, admitting you are not an expert in any field pays off much more.

You Don't Listen to Your Client and Their Needs

Stop talking!

A good consultation is a two-way street, and the client should feel like they are being listened to. Practice active listening; if you're not listening well, your client will feel like you don't care about their needs or problems and may not want to work with you. 

It's also important not to use distractions during consultations, like checking emails or looking at your phone, because it makes people uncomfortable when their conversations aren't focused on them alone. It can also hinder communication between both parties involved in these types of interactions.

How to fix that:

If someone is talking, don't interrupt them by asking questions that could have been answered by listening better (like "What do you mean?"). 

Instead, ask open-ended questions that encourage more detailed responses instead of yes/no answers (like "Tell me more about..."). 

Asking questions will help get them talking so they feel more comfortable sharing information with you.

You Don't Know How to Negotiate

Don't sell yourself short.

In a negotiation, you want to give the impression that you are giving away more than you are getting. Negotiating is easy if you have researched and know the other party's needs. For example, if they want something specific from their new website design, offer them something else, but make sure it's still relevant!

You also want to make sure to avoid getting stuck in an endless loop of negotiations; if one party can't agree on terms or constantly changes their mind, then it may be best to move on.

How to fix that:

Among all the misconceptions around negotiation skills, it's always good to master this skill if you are in the consulting business. 

Understand your value, your goals, and the client's needs. Then, learn to compromise without selling out your skills. 

Experience will do the rest.

Not Adding Your Personality to the Mix

Break the ice!

The last thing you want to do during a consultation is to be boring. You want your client to walk away feeling like they've met and gotten to know you on some level, even if it was just for 15 minutes. 

When the time comes for small talk, don't be afraid of being yourself!

Clients must get an idea of who works with or for them to see how well their personalities will fit together (and if there are any potential conflicts). You should also gauge whether this person will work well with others on your team by asking questions about what kinds of people they prefer working with.

How to fix that:

You might even consider giving examples from past projects where someone else has been involved or, even better yet: explain why certain aspects were successful or unsuccessful based on their skill set (s). 

And remember, don't forget about humour! Adding a little bit here and there will help break up any lulls in conversation while still letting them know how seriously we take our work ethic as well.

These are just some of the slips not to make during counselling. Although they seem like attitudes that could be overlooked, they often make the difference between a lousy meeting and a collaborative proposal.

First, excellent communication skills do most of the work, along with effective listening and thorough preparation before the meeting. 

Great communication will put you in a great position in front of the client, who will want to discuss the project with you and how you can bring value to their business. 

Finally, remember to put your personal touch on your work. The client will hire you for your skills, but your personality will make a difference.

7 Signs That Tell You It's Time to Hire a Consultant

If you're running your own business, it's easy to think you can do everything alone. But as your company grows, you might be overwhelmed by the demands of running many projects and managing staff simultaneously. 

In these circumstances, someone can solve the issues internally. But in some cases, the signs are that hiring an external consultant (Articolo 2) who can best deal with all the problems mining your business is better.

But why look for external consultancy? Looking for consultancy services can be a great way to relieve some of the stress and allow you to focus on what matters most: growing your business.

Sure, you heard about hiring a consultant's importance, but what does that mean? What is a consultant, and why do you need one? 

A consultant has experience in your industry and can help guide your business. Let's put it this way: it's the right pro at the right time. But how do you know when to hire one? 

Let's discuss together the top seven reasons why it is time for you to visit a consulting marketplace and look for a business consultant.

 

You Need a Fresh Pair of Eyes Looking at Your Business

The best time to hire a consultant is when you need someone looking at your business with fresh eyes. 

You may be so close to your company's day-to-day operations and details that it's hard for you to see what could be improved or changed. A consultant will help identify, with an objective point of view of the matter, areas where your business needs to change, which can lead to better service delivery, higher profit margins, and more satisfied customers.

A consultant can also offer advice on how best to implement changes within your organization so that they stick long-term. Something that might not come naturally when working solo or in small teams where everyone knows each other well (and has been working together for years).

 

You've Got a Lot on Your Plate

When you're overwhelmed and stressed, seeing the forest for the trees can be difficult. You might feel like there's no way out of your situation. But if you're feeling this way, it's time to step back and ask yourself: "What do I need help with?".

Someone else could handle one or more tasks in your workload more efficiently than you can or even just as well as you. If so, delegate! Delegating will free up time for things they may not have been able to do before (like learning new skills).

You also need to learn to rank tasks based on importance rather than urgency; otherwise, all urgent things will always win out over important ones because they're so critical! Finally, learn how to say no or delegate when necessary; remember that saying yes too often means saying no too little later on when there aren't enough hours in our day/week/month/year. 

Set boundaries around what projects matter most now versus what can wait until later.

You're Trying to Expand Your Business but Don't Know Where to Start

If you're trying to expand your business but need help figuring out where to start, a strategic business consultant can help. They'll tell you what will work and what won't, which ideas are good and bad, and how best to prioritize tasks.

You may feel like this is something that only other people need help with but trust us: no one knows your business better than you do. Furthermore, your employees have their jobs and responsibilities; you can't expect them to support you in this kind of task while they are busy doing the work you pay them to do (unless they happen not only have been in business for years but also studied management).

 

Your Current Marketing Strategy Isn't Working

If your marketing strategy isn't working, it's time to consider hiring a consultant. Of course, social media and marketing are great tools for getting new customers. Still, if you need to be using them effectively or reaching the wrong audience with your advertisements, that's a sign that your marketing strategy needs updating. 

For example:

  • If most of your posts go unnoticed by followers, they don't comment or share them.
  • If people aren't clicking on post links or visiting other websites.
  • If there are no conversions on your websites.

From promotion to any strategy or methodology in your business, listening to the advice of an external professional could help you adopt a new approach and new ideas that have never been tried before.

Your Internal Audit Has Revealed Some Issues That Need Resolving

If your company has any internal audit, then it's likely that your team has already identified some areas for improvement. Yet, if this is different from the case and you want to know where your organization stands, an external consultant can help.

An internal audit involves evaluating how well current processes and procedures are working within an organization. It also provides a basis for improvement by identifying problems in specific areas or areas where improvement is needed but needs to be yet being addressed (e.g., not enough training).

If your internal analyses have revealed points of improvement, but you have realized that you need to learn how to implement them, this is where the work of a professional in counselling comes in!

 

You'd Like to Restructure Your Organization but Don't Know How

If you're feeling stuck in your organization and want to do things differently but need to know how a consultant can provide a fresh perspective on how to get it right. They'll help you restructure your organization so everyone's on the same page.

Providing a new way to see your internal organization is particularly important if there are problems with communication or collaboration in your office. It happens to everyone at some point.

For example, if some people need to work together better because of conflicting goals or different personalities. A consultant will help guarantee everyone understands their role within the company structure and why it matters to them (and everyone else).

 

Industry Trends Aren't Favorable, and You're Not Sure What to Do About It

If your industry is changing and you're sceptical about keeping up with it, a consultant can help.

If you're in an industry where trends are shifting, and there's no way of knowing which way they'll go next, a consultant can help you stay on top by providing insight into what's happening in your market now and what might happen later. 

If you have limited time or resources for research and analysis (or both), hiring someone whose job is to gather information on these topics may be preferable over trying to do it yourself.

Remember:

  • Employee relations are a crucial part of any successful business.
  • It can be hard to find good employees and even harder to keep them once you've found them.
  • You must treat your employees well, or they will leave, and taking on new ones is expensive!
  • Your business depends on these people. They're the key to success.

 

So, How Do You Know if You Need a Consultant?

The following are some of the most common reasons why you need to hire a consultant:

  • You need a new vision of how your business is going.
  • You need to build a new online marketing strategy to expand your business.
  • You want to improve, to change. As simple as that!
  • It doesn't just happen to you: every business at some point needs some backup! 

A consultant can provide fresh perspectives, new ideas and insights into how best to approach your challenges.

It doesn't matter if you're looking for someone specialising in marketing or human resources. Consultants are experts at what they do and will work with you to find solutions within your budget and timeframe.

3 Benefits of Hiring an External Consultant

When you're in the middle of a project, with deadlines approaching and scope creep getting out of hand, hiring someone to do what you're currently doing can be tempting. 

Hiring someone from scratch can be problematic for several reasons. First, if you don't have any experience managing that type of person or project, your first attempt may be disastrous. And even if it isn't that bad, they will likely have some preferences or habits that might not fit with your or your team's culture (and those things can make working together less fun).

At times of intense work or change within your company, you will likely need the experience and help of an external consultant. 

Hiring an external consultant differs from an employee and brings several benefits. First, they ensure your project meets its goals and timelines, not just that the work gets done well enough. They'll likely have more experience managing projects like yours than anyone on your team. In addition, they're used to working with people from diverse backgrounds who come from different companies and industries.

If you're looking to hire one for your company, you've probably heard of some of the benefits of hiring an external consultant. But it can have to learn understand why hiring them would be worth the money if you need to know what a consultant is and what they do. 

 

What Is an External Consultant?

An external consultant is a person who provides professional advice and guidance to an organisation. 

They're hired from outside the company and work with you for a period, while internal consultants are full-time staff who dedicate wholly to the evolution of a company. External consultants are hired outside the organisation, often by another department (such as HR) or an external client contracted with you for service delivery (such as software development). 

External consultants can provide fresh perspectives on problems because they are less familiar with your culture or industry than internal employees would be. We'll go through 3 main benefits of why hiring an external consultant can benefit your business, and that will help you figure out if an external consultant is the pro you're looking for.

Skills and Expertise

Let's pretend you're a large organisation's CEO and have an important decision to make. You need to hire someone to head up your marketing department, and you're considering two candidates:

  • Candidate A, who has been working in marketing for years, but has never actually managed people before (and doesn't seem that keen on doing so)
  • Candidate B has managed other departments and successfully led them through several projects without hiccups.

What would you choose? Would you risk hiring someone who could learn in the field but can't handle your project?

Skills and expertise are the value you are bringing to your company by hiring an outside consultant, and thanks to those skills, your business will make the difference in completing a project or solving your problem.

If you don't have internal competencies, it makes sense for you to hire a highly skilled consultant who already knows how best to complete the task. 

Innovative and Fresh Input

When you hire an external consultant, they will bring a new perspective on your business. 

Employees of a company find it challenging to quickly identify flaws in how they conduct business because staying too long with one company prevents you from seeing the big picture. The cause may be sentimental or the fading of a strict, professional demeanour. However, external consultants are impartial. They can identify the issues and causes preventing the organisation's advancement. Sometimes getting a clear picture of what's happening requires an outsider's perspective.

Consultants are experts in their field, have a proven track record of successful projects and can communicate effectively. The client should feel comfortable working with the consultant, and their team of external consultants can also help your business to grow. 

They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, which they can share with staff at all levels, helping them to develop new skills and improve their performance.

Not that internal employees are always wrong. Often, their ideas are innovative, and they have great insights into their systems. It can be challenging to see what's happening because they have a stake in the company's future.

 

Save Money

The first benefit is getting a professional for a fraction of the cost. Hiring an external consultant will save you money in two ways: first, they can often provide services at a lower rate than internal employees. 

Second, external consultants are more affordable than hiring full-time employees. For example, if your company has been growing rapidly and needs help with marketing but doesn't have much capital, hiring an external consultant might be the perfect solution for finding someone who knows what they're doing while keeping costs low enough to not interfere with growth (or even start making money).

 

There Are Many Benefits to Hiring an External Consultant

There are many benefits to hiring an external consultant. Here are our top 3:

  • You get to hire a professional with experience in your field and knowledge of what they're doing. If you want someone with expertise but don't want to pay them full-time wages, hiring an external consultant is the way to go!
  • An external consultant benefits from introducing innovation and a new point of view to the company. They can analyse the issue as an external professional without bias that could interfere with the success of the analysis. 
  • As for economic issues, an external consultant could be an excellent economic investment. As opposed to hiring a full-time employee, a consultant will only be employed in your company for a specific period, as they will only work on particular projects or consultancies.

We hope this article has helped you understand the benefits of hiring an external consultant. However, if you're still need clarification, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about our services.