You're struggling to improve your IT consulting work. What is the best way to get feedback?

Getting feedback is critical to improving your IT consulting work. First you should seek informal feedback during daily interactions with customers. Ask their opinions on specific aspects of the consultancy work, problems encountered or suggestions for improvement. Active listening during informal conversations can provide valuable information. You could also schedule regular evaluation meetings with clients to discuss project progress, results achieved and areas for improvement. These meetings provide an opportunity to gather real-time feedback and address any concerns or issues. I think informal feedback is more useful than formal feedback.

While there are several ways to collect feedback but my personal favourite is interviews. This approach can provide more nuanced insights than surveys. Also, one-on-one interviews signal to clients that their opinions are valued and that their business is important to you. This personal attention can strengthen relationships and provide you with valuable insights at the same time. The important question is, how do you conduct such interviews? - Prepare: you should structure your interview to achieve those objectives. - Diversify your sample. - Listen actively: show genuine interest in what the client has to say. DON’T be defensive. - Follow up and keep the client updated on changes made as a result of their feedback.

Asking your clients for feedback is a valuable way to understand their needs and improve your IT consulting work. You can collect feedback at different stages of the project using methods such as surveys, interviews, testimonials, or reviews. This feedback can help you identify areas for improvement and make adjustments to better meet your clients' expectations.

The most effective way to improve IT consulting work is by actively seeking feedback from clients and colleagues through surveys, one-on-one discussions, and project retrospectives.

When approaching your peers for feedback, it's important to be respectful and considerate of their time and boundaries. Offer reciprocity. Show willingness to reciprocate by offering your own expertise or assistance in return. This can foster a mutually beneficial relationship and encourage them to be more open to providing feedback.

To improve your IT consulting work, consider seeking feedback from different sources: 1. Ask Your Clients: Request feedback from your clients at various stages of your projects or contracts to understand their needs, expectations, and satisfaction levels. Use methods like surveys, interviews, testimonials, or reviews to gather their insights. 2. Ask Your Peers: Engage with peers in your field or industry to learn from their experiences, insights, and best practices. Join professional networks, attend conferences, or seek mentorship to receive constructive feedback on your technical and soft skills. 3. Self-Assessment: Reflect on your work regularly to identify areas for improvement.

To improve your IT consulting work, seek feedback from clients to understand their needs, from peers to learn best practices, and conduct regular self-assessments to reflect on your performance.

In my experience, actively seeking out feedback from clients, peers, and mentors about your performance can provide invaluable insights into areas for improvement. After gathering feedback, prioritize the areas mentioned most frequently or those that align with your professional growth goals. One thing I've found helpful is to create an action plan based on this feedback, setting specific, achievable objectives for addressing each area. Regularly review your progress towards these goals and adjust your strategies as needed. A mistake to avoid is disregarding negative feedback or taking it personally. This can hinder your growth and lead to missed opportunities for development. Instead, view all feedback as a constructive tool.

Remembering the difference between your personality, nationality, location, language, and the customer is key. You may be a morning person or a late-night owl, the customer may expect you to work 9-5. If neither of you brings it up, there will be issues. I am open about my schedule and times/days, and most clients are okay with it. But for the ones who are not, we work out a plan. The problem is that oftentimes consultants/advisors only find out after the fact about the issues. If you are not having biweekly or weekly meetings with your client, you are setting up for failure. Be proactive. Don't be afraid to get on a call with them to make sure everything is good. If it isn't good, make sure you understand why and how you/they, can fix it.