You’re a consultant in Higher Education. How can you be sure you’re providing value to your clients?

1 Define your niche

One of the first steps to provide value as a consultant is to define your niche and specialize in a specific area of Higher Education. This will help you stand out from the competition and attract clients who are looking for your expertise and experience. For example, you might focus on curriculum design, accreditation, student engagement, online learning, or leadership development. By defining your niche, you can also showcase your credentials, portfolio, and testimonials that demonstrate your value and credibility.

3 Deliver results

A third essential step to provide value as a consultant is to deliver results that meet or exceed your clients' expectations and objectives. This will help you demonstrate your impact and effectiveness as a consultant and generate positive outcomes and testimonials for your clients. For example, you might use a logic model, a theory of change, or a SMART framework to plan, implement, and evaluate your services and solutions. By delivering results, you can also track your progress, measure your success, and report your findings and recommendations.

5 Learn and grow

A fifth crucial step to provide value as a consultant is to learn and grow from your experiences and feedback as a consultant and keep up with the latest trends and developments in Higher Education. This will help you update and improve your skills, knowledge, and practices as a consultant and offer innovative and relevant services and solutions to your clients. For example, you might take a course, read a book, join a network, or attend a conference to learn and grow as a consultant. By learning and growing, you can also maintain your competitive edge, expand your network, and increase your opportunities.

6 Add value

A sixth and final step to provide value as a consultant is to add value to your services and solutions by going above and beyond what your clients expect and providing extra benefits and support. This will help you create a lasting impression and a loyal relationship with your clients and generate referrals and repeat business. For example, you might offer a free consultation, a bonus resource, a follow-up support, or a discount to add value to your services and solutions. By adding value, you can also differentiate yourself, delight your clients, and grow your reputation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?