Dear IMCs,
In my role as Chair of ICMCI Academic Fellows, I'm leading the production of the new ICMCI book on Consultancy Skills.
This is an exciting new project for the ICMCI. The book will be globally relevant and practical. It will be produced in physical forms. It is based on ISO 20700:2017 and CMC competencies. The book will cover four main areas - 1) How to win clients, 2) How to deliver successful consulting projects, 3) How to build a consulting business, 4) How to develop your skills and capabilities as a consultant.
The content of the book will be based on practical experience of people in the ICMCI community. As well as seeking input from ICMCI board members, I will look for involvement from every IMC, the ICMCI Academic Fellows, and the wider group of CMCs and MCs.
This is a commercial venture for the ICMCI, all proceeds will go into the ICMCI. Any person whose contribution is included in the book, will get a credit in the book and free copy of the book in digital form.
ICMCI Chair, Dwight Mihalicz CMC®, encourages your contributions in order to give visibility to our IMCs in our publication.
The immediate request:
Please would you send me the best piece of advice you have about delivering successful consulting projects. Somewhere between 50 and 200 words is fine and email me directly with your replies simon@researching.co.uk.
Suggested Subjects:
1. Future of management consulting
2. Selling consulting services
- Setting up an effective sales process
- Understanding client needs
- Writing a winning proposal
- How to prepare specific clauses in contracting?
3. Delivering a successful consulting project
- Managing risk in consulting projects
- How to work with associates
- Getting recommendations and referrals
4. Building a consulting business
- How to create a strategy
- Using blogs to build profile
- Using social media to market a consulting firm
- Building thought leadership
- Recruiting new consultants
- Developing and retaining talent
- Using technology/software to automate admin and processes
- Blending consulting work with other incomes/commercial activities
- Managing profitability
5. Developing consulting skills
To give you an example, my piece of advice to consultants is:
"Be prepared to go beyond the scope of your contract for your client. In project management 'scope creep' is considered a bad thing, but in consulting work being willing to do more for your client, to go the extra mile, helps build the client relationship and your firms reputation. To do this will place extra pressure on your your consulting project time-wise and perhaps financially, so plan for it to happen. It may be the most effective marketing you do."
Please consider that the deadline for providing your input by email to myself is close of business Friday 14 May 2021. Thank you.
Best regards,
Dr Simon Haslam FRSA C.Dir CMC®
Director, FMR Research Ltd
www.researching.co.uk www.simonhaslam.com
Founding editor: Management Consulting Journal
Chair: ICMCI Academic Fellows