Getting into management consulting, but having a hard time getting started in the industry? Haris Ahmed knows a thing or two about this conundrum, as he has been a management consultant for a long time.
In order to get to the top of the pyramid, he followed universal truths which helped to propel him to success.
Want to follow in his footsteps? In this article, we’ll discuss some tricks that he used to become the business maven he is today.
1) Do what you say you are going to do
You’ll only get far in business if your clients trust in your ability to get the job done honestly. Keep true to your word, and meet all deadlines imposed on you and your associates.
Do this and the business community will come to know you as a professional who can get work done efficiently and effectively.
Your clients will not only love you for the results you garner for them, but you will also earn more than your share of referrals.
This way, you will have plenty of new projects to sustain you and help your consultancy beat the odds (most businesses don’t make it to the five year mark).
2) Maintain good work habits
It can be tempting to phone it in on certain parts of a project, but you will be taking a big risk if you do this.
Once these acts are baked into your DNA, these habits can be hard to reverse, causing damage to the quality of the work that you do for clients.
Even if you are disciplined enough to maintain your work ethic in other aspects, clients may pick up on things like simple spelling errors and cheap final report paper.
This can cause them to question the legitimacy of your whole operation, even if the findings you make are rock solid.
3) Be an expert
While some recommend becoming a ‘Jack of All Trades’, it is actually the opposite that is necessary to thrive in the 21st century landscape.
It is getting more difficult to be heard than ever before, as the internet means we are now competing against peers from across the country and around the world. As such, being the sore thumb is an asset in 2017.
Know how to set up lean business processes inside and out? Promote yourself relentlessly via your website, on platforms like LinkedIn, and on social media and new business will stream to you, as they will see you as someone who can be trusted.
4) Use your brain
It can be easy to think you have seen it all after a few years as a business consultant. After this time, many professionals in the field start operating on autopilot – this is a huge mistake.
Business changes all the time, and more so in recent years with the onset of technological change. Therefore, when you are on a job, it is vital to think each problem thoroughly, using new information you have learned recently.
This will enable you to come up with solutions which actually resolve the problems clients have. Doing this will make further stand out from those who apply antiquated solutions that belong to the 20th century.
Additionally, it will allow you to avoid developing the reputation that other consultants end up getting, which can hold you back from making the big bucks.
