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The Independent Consultant’s Guide to Institutional Trust
Did you know that even as a solo, independent consultant, trust in your brand from the client perspective is as important, if not more so, than the client's trust in you as a consultant? For larger consulting firms, this fact probably goes without saying, but among...
The Triangle of Skills for Your Independent Consulting Business
As I've mentioned in many previous posts here at the Consulting Business School Blog, to run a successful independent consulting business, you need to be proficient in a range of skills beyond a technical knowledge of your chosen consulting field. Some of those...
How to Write Consulting Proposals and Actually Enjoy It
Many consultants I know (and I've met a few in my career) wish they'd never have to write another consulting proposal. With the exception of those on the verge of retirement though, it's a pretty vain wish, since few are the prospective clients who will engage a...
Do I Need Consulting Experience to start my own Consulting Business?
This is probably the question I get asked most often. People assume there's some kind of barrier to entry, and that you need to have spent years at McKinsey or Deloitte before you're "allowed" to hang out your own shingle. Honestly, I understand why that fear exists....
How to Safely Guarantee Your Consulting Services
It goes without saying that just about any product you buy will come with some degree of guarantee as to its quality. The same is also true of most services. But how can you possibly guarantee your consulting services, when your clients' outcomes depend as much upon...
Why are Companies Increasingly Turning to External Consultants?
They employ business managers, analysts, IT specialists, and qualified staff members. So why are companies hiring more and more external consultants?
Why You Should Master PowerPoint Before Consulting
If you've ever been involved in a project with external consultants (in your previous corporate life), you probably noticed that they seem to absolutely love PowerPoint presentations. The truth is, we don't spend hour upon hour making pretty slides for the fun of it...
Should I be a Consultant or a Contractor? What’s the difference?
This is another question I get asked a lot. And most people don't appreciate that the two are quite different. The confusion is understandable, honestly. Both contractors and consultants work outside the traditional employment structure, both get paid for their...
How To Structure a Consulting Proposal
Love them or hate them (most consultants hate them); consulting proposals will become a regular feature in your career as an independent consultant. If you can get away with winning a project without a proposal, consider it a significant achievement. A letter...