David A. Fields Consulting Group

??No one has ever complained about being appreciated.?? ?? ?? ?? Five Supremely Practical Ways Gratitude Benefits Your Consulting Firm ? https://lnkd.in/dAW-Vn4 #consulting #managementconsulting #consultingfirm

If asking uncomfortable questions were easy, you wouldn’t find it uncomfortable and wouldn’t dodge important questions that you know would help you and your prospective client. Clearly, therefore, there are daunting, internal impediments preventing you from blurting out some questions. Part of your resistance is fear that your prospect will be offended or taken aback by your request. That you will be perceived as rude, uncouth, insensitive and not worthy of a project. Those are legitimate concerns. Were you to blithely fire off whatever questions flit through your mind, unfiltered and unfettered, you could irreparably harm the relationship and eliminate any chance of winning the consulting engagement. It turns out there’s a very easy solution to this problem. ?First, ask for permission. No matter how difficult, uncomfortable, awkward or sensitive the information is you’re seeking, if you ask for permission and offer (or are assumed to have) a good reason, you’re likely to get the information you’re seeking. This is called?presumptive permission, and works extraordinarily well with some variation of “May I…” or “Do you mind if…” before virtually any inquiry. ?? ?? ?? How to Gain Critical, Delicate Information From Prospective Consulting Prospects ? https://lnkd.in/gNWSVMbW #consulting #managementconsulting #consultingfirm

The consulting questions we answered this week: —?????How do you accelerate prospect decision-making? —?????How do I structure my fees for clients that are cash-strapped? —?????Is it feasible to have a successful independent consulting career after 7 years in neuroscience? —?????How do I structure my fees when it feels like a lot of parts to what a client wants? ?? ?? ?? New to 15 Minute Consulting Best Practices? Join us every Monday for a fast-paced, live Q&A session specifically for leaders of small consulting firms (including solo consultants).? Hosted by David A. Fields Consulting Group, a team that has helped build over 300 small consulting firms, guided firm owners through scale-up to lucrative exits, and authored the highest-rated books in the category. (While also mastering the art of eating chocolate on Zoom calls with no one noticing.) ?????? Submit your questions to us at [email protected] or David A. Fields on LinkedIn ? (https://lnkd.in/eF9QFBWz), and we’ll answer them live. . #consulting #managementconsulting #consultingfirm

Your consulting firm is smart, capable and delivers outstanding results, but do you play nicely in the sandbox? Operationally, do your projects run smoothly or are they disorganized? Is it completely clear to the client whom they should call in any circumstance? If the client requests something extra that requires a modicum of time or effort from your consulting firm, is there grumbling or cheerful collaboration? Ask your clients how easy they find it to work with you and your teams and you’ll discovery improvement opportunities. ?? ?? ?? 5 Ways to Create a Client-Friendly Consulting Firm that Attracts Follow-On Business ? https://lnkd.in/gH5MZ3Sw #consulting #managementconsulting #consultingfirm

??3 Steps to transform your Now Firm into Best Ever Firm:?? ? Step 1: Identify the Bigger Win for Your Clients ? Q1: What bigger problem can you solve for your clients? Alternatively, what bigger aspiration can you help your clients achieve? Becoming Best Ever Firm starts with your clients, of course. Many consulting firms mistakenly believe they should focus on larger clients. The faster, more reliable, more scalable path to Best Ever Firm is to focus on bigger wins for the clients you already know how to reach and win. ?? ?? ?? Make Next Year Your Consulting Firm’s Best Year Yet with These 3 Simple Steps ? https://lnkd.in/gEVwFQf9 #consulting #managementconsulting #consultingfirm

You probably know a few super-connectors who seem to know everyone and stay in touch with everyone. You can train yourself to be one of those super-connectors. It’s easy. 95% of your network is sitting there, untouched by you. All you need to do is send those folks a message. Messages lead to connections. Connections lead to conversations. ?Conversations are where wealth is created in the form of relationships and, happily, opportunities for your consulting firm. ?? ?? ?? Connections Are Everything for Your Consulting Firm. How to Make Connecting Easy ? https://lnkd.in/gYQZcCZk #consulting #managementconsulting #consultingfirm

The consulting questions we answered this week: —?????How to manage a resurfacing contact? —?????How do you initiate new business that supports larger consultancies? —?????How do I convey an approach to areas outside my expertise without losing credibility? —?????What should we look for when choosing a CRM? ?? ?? ?? New to 15 Minute Consulting Best Practices? Join us every Monday for a fast-paced, live Q&A session specifically for leaders of small consulting firms (including solo consultants).? Hosted by David A. Fields Consulting Group, a team that has helped build over 300 small consulting firms, guided firm owners through scale-up to lucrative exits, and authored the highest-rated books in the category. (While also mastering the art of eating chocolate on Zoom calls with no one noticing.) ?????? Submit your questions to us at [email protected] or David A. Fields on LinkedIn ? (https://lnkd.in/eF9QFBWz), and we’ll answer them live. . #consulting #managementconsulting #consultingfirm

Perhaps the most difficult balancing act in consulting is working projects while courting and landing new clients. ? Protect your new business development time as if it's a client's time! ?? ?? ?? #consulting #managementconsulting #consultingfirm

The consulting questions we answered this week: —?????How do you choose between clients? —?????How should I handle a contact who said he can't work with me (I'm not a preferred vendor) but wants to "pick my brain" about a competitor I've worked with? —?????How do you turn a no into a yes? —?????What do you do when asked to push out a scheduled call? ?? ?? ?? New to 15 Minute Consulting Best Practices? Join us every Monday for a fast-paced, live Q&A session specifically for leaders of small consulting firms (including solo consultants).? Hosted by David A. Fields Consulting Group, a team that has helped build over 300 small consulting firms, guided firm owners through scale-up to lucrative exits, and authored the highest-rated books in the category. (While also mastering the art of eating chocolate on Zoom calls with no one noticing.) ?????? Submit your questions to us at [email protected] or David A. Fields on LinkedIn ? (https://lnkd.in/eF9QFBWz), and we’ll answer them live. . #consulting #managementconsulting #consultingfirm

You can start establishing yourself and your consulting firm as Thought Leaders by overcoming a scant handful of hurdles. ?Credibility Corral evidence to support your original idea. Do you or your consulting firm need years of experience to be a Thought Leader? Nope. You just need proven success. You can be a newcomer to your field and if your original idea holds water, you’re a shoe-in for Thought Leader status. Consider Boyan Slat, for instance, who catapulted to Thought Leader status at age 19 when he presented his Ocean Cleanup ideas. Your evidence?can?be your own experience. But it can also be other people’s experiences or case studies or analysis. Plenty of Thought Leaders come up with an idea then search out evidence that corroborates their position. (Blue Ocean Strategy comes to mind.) What have you or others in your consulting firm done (so far) to establish Thought Leadership? ?? ?? ?? Thought Leadership, Boiled Down to a Few Easy Steps ?https://lnkd.in/gZWsGACD #consulting #managementconsulting #consultingfirm