Six Best Practices for Transitioning From Corporate Leader To Corporate Consultant

How can an entrepreneurial-minded leader balance their desire to become a business owner while maintaining the stability of their corporate leadership role?

?The answer is becoming a corporate consultant.

The world of entrepreneurship can be a jungle, especially when you're accustomed to the stability of a six-figure salary. For those willing to leap, there are rewards for you?and your current organization.??

As a corporate consultant, you'll be able to work with different companies, initiate initiatives, and reap the financial rewards of owning your business. On the flip side, your current organization benefits from your knowledge, expertise, and fresh perspectives gained from working with different organizations –?without having to commit to the high costs of hiring a new full-time employee to replace you in your current position.?

If you're considering making the transition from corporate leader to consultant, here are 6 tips to help you make a seamless transition:

?Identify Your Leadership Sweet Spot:

There is the leadership style that you?choose?and your natural leadership ability. I've found that leaders turned entrepreneurs have a greater chance of success when they serve and lead according to their natural strengths. For many leaders, your consultancy firm will be an extension of your current role.?

I recommend?The Leadership Chess Test?for a comprehensive assessment of your leadership strengths.?

Niche

My rule of thumb is this:?You don't have a business until you've identified a niche and a client within that niche that can?afford to pay you.?There is a reason that the top Tier Consulting firms like McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Company focus on specific industries. As a small business, the secret to success is finding an area where you can lead and serve from experience?(having resources to help with implementation doesn't hurt either).

Branded Framework

Speaking of Top Tier firms, each has a Branded Framework or way of approaching problem solving that they are known for. As you develop your consultancy, you must have a framework you are known for. During a mastermind I hosted in Myrtle Beach, I had the honor of having Anthony Flynn, another 7-figure consultant who spoke on the benefits of leaning into a branded framework. When talking about wins in his business, Anthony discussed how his branded framework was the#1 reason he's remained competitive against larger firms.?

Start developing your framework and collecting evidence points of your success. These will be essential when transitioning and selling your services as a consultant later.?

Dress Up

Literally, dress two to three pay grades above your current position. By making this a practice now, you'll be tapping into the power of Executive Presence. I define Executive Presence as the ability to:

• Show up looking like the leader you are
• Communicating like the leader you are and having the gravitas to back it up.?

As a consultant who demands a 7-figure retainer, you should look like a 7-figure consultant if you want to be taken seriously. This is one of the tricks I teach in my Leadership Leverage Community. Your attire is a form of social proof and helps build trust quickly.?

The Gatekeeper vs. Key Decision Makers

Chances are good that if you're in corporate leadership, you already know your organization's gatekeepers and decision-makers. A gatekeeper is typically an administrative assistant or someone in HR who can make decisions on who gets access to the decision-maker.?

As you develop your consulting business on the side, it's essential to focus on developing relationships with both. I know it may seem like you're working two jobs now, but remember, your ultimate goal is to position your brand to serve your current employer as a consultant and expand your business from there. The relationships you develop internally and externally will be indispensable during the transition.

Make Connections/Network Like A Leader

I highly encourage you to join professional communities and leverage your contacts. For example, LinkedIn is a great platform to connect with other professionals in your field. Inside my Leadership Leverage Community,?if you qualify for access, you'll be connected to dozens of leaders that can make the introduction for you.

And don't forget about all the people who know you from your years of working and volunteering. As a matter of fact, volunteering is considered one of the best ways to network. When you volunteer, you can serve a cause that's important to you while also meeting new people and building relationships organically.

Develop Your Personal Brand:

The final steps are arguably the most critical in growing your business as a corporate consultant. You'll position yourself as an expert and build trust with potential clients by creating content relevant to your target market, speaking at industry events, and writing books or articles on related topics.

Finally, start pitching your services to potential clients. This can be one of the most challenging parts of transitioning from coach to consultant. Still, if you have a strong value proposition and can demonstrate your expertise convincingly, chances are good that you'll land some new business deals.

And don't forget about word-of-mouth marketing and referrals - both of which can be incredibly powerful tools for growing your business as a corporate consultant.

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?Ready To Transition From A Six-Figure Leader To Seven-Figure Consultant?

Whether you're just thinking about transitioning from a corporate leader to a consultant or if you've already started the journey, understanding your Leadership Attributes is a critical move. Successfully making the pivot relies on you becoming an effective leader, communicator, and closer.

The FREE Leadership Chess Test?will show you how to unlock your human potential, show your strengths, and areas to watch out for as you transition from leader to consultant. Your results will also give you insight into the characteristics of building a team.