What data can you use to improve your consulting performance?

Before consultants can dive into performance data, you need to have the right tools in place. Start by securing your main data needs; Gathering and sorting data, performing analysis, and presenting findings. Next, a helpful tip is to set clear metrics that are key to each project’s success. Make sure the KPIs are aligned with your client. These metrics provides a way to monitor the health of the project. By communicating the results with the client throughout the project, you build credibility, and hold yourself accountable to the available data.

Here's the data you need: 1?? Client feedback: Actively seek feedback from clients. Analyze their comments and suggestions. 2?? Project metrics: Track project timelines, milestones, and budgets. 3?? Industry trends: Stay on top of industry trends and market dynamics. 4?? Success stories: Highlight successful case studies. Use data to showcase the positive impact of your consulting services on clients' businesses. 5?? Market research 6?? Team performance metrics 7?? Tech integration: From analytics tools to AI-driven insights, staying tech-savvy is key. Collect, analyze, and adapt for continuous improvement!

In my experience, Gathering data from client is the most relevant source that help me to improve the consulting performance. ??Client feedback is crucial for understanding how well your services meet client expectations. Positive Feedback -> Highlight Strengths Negative Feedback ->Reveal areas for improvement ??Client Feedback provides actionable insights for immediate improvements. ??Analyzing the feedback can also identify patterns and recurring issues that might need systemic changes.

I believe that the more information about market and PEST analysis the more appropriate outcomes we will get and then the more appropriate solutions we will provide.

To enhance consulting performance, leverage client feedback, industry benchmarks, and performance metrics. Analyze project outcomes, gather qualitative insights, and stay updated on market trends. Continuous learning, client collaboration, and data-driven decision-making are crucial for optimal consulting effectiveness.

An oft-overlooked data source is industry analysts. While consultants jump from projects to project, industry analysts stay focused on a specific part of an industry and collect time series data. Analysts' data can be immensely valuable to check client assumptions, identify market shares etc. However, not all analysts are equal. There are companies that churn reports in numerous domains using dubious assumptions to estimate current values and linear regression to predict the future. Stay away from them to protect your credibility as a consultant.

Firstly when collecting data you need to think why do I need this and what use will it be. Collecting data for data sake will become overwhelming and you won’t do anything with it in this case. set benchmarks ie client data, project data, project data etc and then. The next step is how you will Collect this data. Forms, or feedback links are a good way.

Frankly, I have another more critical concern : how to thrive as a consultant in the era of AI? What will it mean to deliver business value to clients then? I'm so concerned, that I'm starting a doctorate research on the topic. More than open to discuss if you'd like to share views : pm welcome !

Use tools that you can use and that help convey the analysis. So many people use tools as the are trendy or are oversold. Sometimes the best analysis can be done simply on excel. Power bi and other viz biz tools allow you to create simple dashboards or overviews which you can drill into for further details. These can also be shared across the companies and internally.

LLMs enhance data analysis by aiding in organisation, interpretation, and presentation, supporting decision-making. They complement tools like Excel or R for data accuracy, work with Tableau or Power BI for statistics and graphs, and assist with SPSS, Stata, or SAS for inferential analysis. LLMs also help communicate results effectively through PowerPoint, Word, or Canva, ensuring clear data presentation. This integration streamlines the analysis process, leading to more efficient and accurate decisions.

Great point! In my experience as a Business Excellence consultant who empowers businesses utilising data and insights, I take the same approach when it comes to my own business. I collect my consulting data along the journey using observation and/or experimentation. But to be specific on what I am going to collect, I would first set the outcomes. I do usually need to define different outcomes per project/engagement. For example, I have been looking to see the impact of training that I offer as part of my consulting works and collected data over 4 different projects. The results help me to discover my strengths in this area and developing a separate pillar in my business to offer training ??

Data analysis will tell you what you need or want to know. But it’s only as good as the original data. Poor data in, poor results and insight out. So spend time in making sure the data is correct, or accurate to what you want. If it’s consumer data you need there’s no point on having product data unless there’s a link. Keeping it simple allows for better effectiveness. When analysing data you can spot trends, problem areas, growth opportunities and much more. Accurate and digestible insight can also give you a strategic advantage on your competition. Base any external insight on what they want to see in a way they can understand it.

LLMs enhance strategic data application in consulting, helping adjust project scopes, timelines, and budgets. They aid in learning from successes and failures, developing improved services and processes. LLMs support business expansion, analyzing data for innovation and differentiation strategies. They help grow client bases and reputations through data-driven insights, crucial for increasing a consultant's value and impact, and achieving professional goals.

As a consultant honesty within yourself becomes very important. Feedback, even statistical data can be rationalised. Many other things go into the outcomes achieved. Underlying agendas, conflicts within stakeholder ranks, technical, digital, and process maturity. You all know the drill. What I look for is points where my advice makes a recognised difference. Did I influence a better data management strategy and can I identify the efficiencies it made? Did I introduce business SMEs into hyper care for business partner relationship and did that translate into fast and more accurate partner updates? Yes. And then sometimes I have to say no it didn't. But the data is the data and it doesn't lie.

Great article. I would just add we also need a feedback loop between strategy implementation/actions and the next round of data collection.

If my client finds my advice understandable, credible, and beneficial, then I have performed well. If the experience they had getting to that point with me is in their opinion something they would ask for again, then I have performed highly well. And if it helped them to understand themselves better as a decision maker and both gotten them to a decision and raised their confidence, then I have performed best. I find out about these outcomes and levels of them through communications; different clients have differing ways and competencies as communicators. Thus my performance hinges largely on finding the best way to communicate specifically with them.

Data analysis is a fundamental part of a consult role. Being able to understand buyer behaviour ahead of the game through analysis gives you a head start on your competition. Also analysing your projects allow for improvement on the next.

LLMs can be highly effective in improving all aspects of data handling in consulting, offering early adopters a competitive edge. By efficiently organising, analyzing, and interpreting data, LLMs enhance decision-making and strategic planning. They streamline data processing, from cleaning to advanced analysis, ensuring accuracy and depth. Early adopters of LLMs in consulting benefit from quicker insights, better client solutions, and innovative service offerings. The integration of LLMs in data-driven tasks like market analysis, trend prediction, and client feedback interpretation leads to improved consulting performance, leading to greater success and industry leadership.