March, 2024

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2 Reasons To Use Hourly Consulting Fees (& When NOT To)

Consulting Success

Should you ever use hourly consulting fees? At Consulting Success®, we believe that there are more reasons NOT to use an hourly fee than to use one. However, there are 2 scenarios I’ll go over in this article where it can make sense to use hourly fees when pricing your consulting services. But before we.

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Scope Reinsertion – the Back Door to Larger Consulting Projects?

David A Fields

Sometimes clients ask you to add scope to a project, for free, that they previously removed to reduce the project’s budget. Do you and your team know the best way to handle this situation? About a month ago your consulting firm won an engagement with wetlands landscaping giant, Sodden Changes, Inc. (SCI). It wasn’t an … Continued The post Scope Reinsertion – the Back Door to Larger Consulting Projects?

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How To Run A Productive Consulting Meeting (Agenda Template)

Consulting Success

Do you ever feel nervous or disorganized before running a consulting meeting? Many consultants — especially when they’re new to consulting — feel uneasy and unprepared when meeting with their clients. If that sounds familiar, you’re probably coming from the corporate world. You had the luxury of having someone else plan and prepare your meetings.

Meeting 263
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An Attitude that Steals Opportunities from Your Consulting Firm

David A Fields

You and your colleagues are upbeat, enthusiastic, fun to be around people with a passion for solving problems. However, there’s one attitudinal quirk that, if left unchecked, will undermine your efforts to win and delight clients. Your consulting firm is all about nurturing warm, long-lasting partnerships and collaborating to create value. Unfortunately, there’s one ingredient … Continued The post An Attitude that Steals Opportunities from Your Consulting Firm appeared first on David A.

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5 Ways You Can Win Faster with Gen AI in Sales

Incorporating generative AI (gen AI) into your sales process can speed up your wins through improved efficiency, personalized customer interactions, and better informed decision- making. Gen AI is a game changer for busy salespeople and can reduce time-consuming tasks, such as customer research, note-taking, and writing emails, and provide insightful data analysis and recommendations.

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Building a Consulting Firm in 2024: An Inside Look with Francisco Gomez

Consulting Success

Building a consulting firm can be difficult. There are certain pitfalls to avoid when scaling or building your firm. In this episode, Francisco Gomez, the founder of Factum Global, gives us an inside look into building a consulting firm in 2024.

More Trending

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The Price is Right: Decoding the Art of Product Pricing

Tom Spencer

One of the most common problems business leaders face is how to price a product. From entrepreneurs putting a new product on the market to executives at a public company revamping a product line, effective pricing is a key pillar of any successful sales and marketing strategy. Moreover, there are many misconceptions about pricing, with internet resources advocating one strategy over another without regard to differing company circumstances.

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How to Deal with Narcissism in the Workplace with Chuck DeGroat

Consulting Matters

So, the leader you’re working with is a narcissist… We’ve probably all had one: a boss or a client with a grandiose sense of self-importance, a need for nonstop admiration, a lack of empathy, and a sense of entitlement. And we’ve all been stumped on how to handle it! Can you relate? If so, pay close attention to this episode where my guest, licensed therapist, author, and narcissism expert, Chuck DeGroat will share with you why so many narcissists wind up in positions of

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Why ISO 20700 Matters: The Future of Management Consulting

Effective Managers

In the fast-paced and evolving world of management consulting, staying ahead of the curve is paramount. The introduction of ISO 20700, the first global service delivery standard for management consultants, marks a significant milestone in this pursuit. This standard is not just a guideline; it’s a visionary step forward, shaping the future of the industry.

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Why Your Consulting Firm’s Strengths Could Be Capping Your Growth

David A Fields

Le Cirque, a beacon of fine dining in the 1980s and 1990s, declared bankruptcy in 2017. You can’t enjoy their Michelin-star sauces anymore, but you can sop up an important lesson about running your consulting firm. You most likely live by the maxim of building on your strengths. Perfecting your consulting firm’s signature dish will … Continued The post Why Your Consulting Firm’s Strengths Could Be Capping Your Growth appeared first on David A.

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Less Stress, More Success: Accounting Best Practices & Processes for 2025

Speaker: Duke Heninger, Partner and Fractional CFO at Ampleo & Creator of CFO System

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Duke Heninger, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

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Managing Risks and Controlling Projects: How Data-Driven Project Management Come in Useful for Multi-Project Environments

Epicflow

This article is inspired by the webinar featuring Epicflow co-founder Jan Willem Tromp and professor Mario Vanhoucke based on his latest book “The Illusion of Control: Project Data, Computer Algorithms and Human Intuition for Project Management and Control”. It isn’t a summary of the book and touches upon only limited aspects of risk management and project control that have been discussed at the webinar.

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How Gamification Can Boost Employee Engagement

Harvard Business

Employee disengagement is a persistent problem, and attempts to inject excitement often fall flat. However, gamification — using elements of games to motivate — has serious potential when thoughtfully executed. This article explores the psychology behind gamification, successful examples, and how to leverage probabilistic rewards (like lotteries tied to performance) to increase employee motivation.

Examples 254
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From A $0 To $1M+ Consulting Business With Nancy MacKay: Podcast #323

Consulting Success

How do you go from zero to a million-dollar consulting business? This episode has the answers for you. Michael Zipursky sits down with Nancy MacKay, the founder and CEO of MacKay CEO Forums, to unpack her journey from an independent consultant to a CEO of her own company. Filled with inspiring anecdotes about rising to.

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4 Lessons From My First 100 Podcast Episodes

Consulting Matters

After doing 100 podcast episodes, here’s what I learned I’ve been creating content for my business for over 13 years – Yikes! But I have only had a podcast for a little over 2 and go figure, it’s turned into one of the favorite things I do with my business. After all, I get to dust off my interviewing skills and use them to unearth the brilliance of each of my guests.

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PowerPoint Best Practices for Creating Stellar Presentations

Mastering data visualization in PowerPoint will help accelerate your career because it positions you as someone who can present data that drives business decisions forward. think-cell's PowerPoint Best Practices eBook was created specifically for professionals aiming to master the art and science of data-driven storytelling. What’s inside: Practical Insights: Uncover valuable tips for crafting engaging and persuasive presentations.

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Understanding ISO 20700: Elevating Your Management Consultancy

Effective Managers

In the dynamic and highly competitive world of management consulting, standing out is crucial. This is where ISO 20700 comes into play. It’s not just another industry buzzword; it’s a game-changer for those looking to elevate their consulting services to new heights. In this blog, we’ll dive deep into what ISO 20700 is, its significance in the consulting industry, and how mastering these guidelines can significantly differentiate your consultancy in the marketplace.

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He Makes $100M/Year, and Will Transform Your Consulting Firm

David A Fields

Can a 25 year-old help you build a more successful consulting firm? In the case of Jimmy Donaldson, the answer is Yes. Donaldson doesn’t know much (or, perhaps, anything) about consulting. However, anyone who started at zero and now brings in well over $100M/year has learned a thing or two that could apply to your … Continued The post He Makes $100M/Year, and Will Transform Your Consulting Firm appeared first on David A.

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Epicflow Updates: Managing Teams and Dividing Project Work into Phases

Epicflow

The Epicflow team continues implementing the most powerful functionality to provide our clients with a variety of tools to juggle projects and resources most efficiently. This time, we’ve prepared updates that will prove useful for those who work in an Agile environment, use Jira + Epicflow integration as well as those dealing with manufacturing, machine building, and other complex phased projects.

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GenAI Could Make Online Conversations More Civil

Harvard Business

Online conversations are famously fraught, which creates challenges for people communicating on online platforms, including those used for workplace collaboration. New research suggests that these platforms might want to consider using generative AI to help cool down heated discussions and prepare employees for difficult conversations. The author discusses research that he and his colleagues have conducted on this topic and discusses the ways in which the community platform Nextdoor has started

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Savings Consultants Are Needed in Today's Market More Than Ever

Savings Consultants are needed in today’s market more than ever. With an increase in expenses, businesses are looking for opportunities to save. Often unknown to businesses are savings in expense reduction, specialized tax savings, specialized savings including medical underpayments, health benefits cost reduction, zero cost processing, and more. Blue Coast Savings, with over 20 years in business, assists Savings Consultants in helping these companies move toward more profitable businesses.

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How To Start an ERP Consulting Business (5 Steps & Case Story)

Consulting Success

What is ERP consulting, and how do you start an ERP consulting business? If you have years of experience and specialized training in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software and digital transformation, you can start an ERP consulting business. Consider Tony Velazquez, a member of our Clarity Coaching program. Tony earned many years of deep expertise.

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Explore the Top 5 Advantages of Incorporating OKRs into Strategy Planning

Strategic Planning and Management Insights

Incorporating OKRs in strategy planning provides an effective framework that drives growth, aligns your goals, and tracks your progress.

Strategy 111
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The ISO 20700 Checklist: A Game-Changer for Management Consultants

Effective Managers

In the ever-evolving landscape of management consulting, the ISO 20700 checklist emerges as a pivotal tool, revolutionizing the way consultancy services are delivered. This checklist, an integral part of the ISO 20700 standard, has been developed by the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI) to guide consultants in delivering top-tier services.

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Why Doesn’t My Software Work?

Harmonious Workplaces

Your tech likely functions; you need better OCM Have you ever implemented a piece of technology and deemed it a failure? If so, the problems may stem from a lack of organizational change management (OCM). When I came aboard a firm, the CEO proudly stated that the company adopted Salesforce like many larger competitors. He […] The post Why Doesn’t My Software Work?

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TOOLS and METHODOLOGIES for developing DECISION SUPPORT PACKAGES

This White Paper targets opportunities for Management to develop proficiency in the Decision Framing and Analyses element of input to Decision, & Risk Analyses for Major Project Funding Decisions.

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Unemployed Agilists: How to Move from a Staff Role to a Line Job, Part 2

Johanna Rothman

You’re an unemployed agilist. And even if you can find an agile coaching or Scrum Master job, the pay is so terrible, you don’t want to take it. That’s because potential employers think these jobs are staff positions. Your previous managers and potential managers don’t see the value of someone in your position. That’s because these managers think agile coaching and Scrum Mastering is a staff job, not a line job.

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How to Decide If AI Should Be Part of Your Growth Strategy

Harvard Business

Should your company be betting on AI as a growth strategy now? How do you distinguish genuine opportunities from speculative fads and make an informed decision on whether AI is your next big bet? In this article, the authors cover five steps to help your company answer this question. After thoughtful analysis, your decision ultimately boils down to this: Does the current state of AI align with your business strategy?

Strategy 254
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Sailing the Seas of Content: Why Humor is Your Best Compass?

Chad Barr

In the ocean of podcasts, it’s like trying to find a message in a bottle. It feels like everyone’s trying to be the captain of their own show, doesn’t it? Sailing the high seas of content creation can lead to some pretty dry spells, especially when you’re charting the technical waters. The challenge is to not drown our audience in a sea of details that could make watching paint dry look like a Vegas act.

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Former PepsiCo COO Grace Puma And Former Nike President Of Consumer Direct Christiana Smith Shi

Strategic Planning and Management Insights

What factors are really holding women back from moving forward in their careers? More importantly, what can you do about it if you find yourself in that position? We talk about all these things and more with our high-caliber guests who promise to deliver nothing but goodness. PepsiCo COO Grace Puma and former Nike President of Consumer Direct Christiana Smith Shi are the authors of the book, Career Forward: Strategies from Women Who’ve Made It.

Strategy 104
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Why You Need to Use Case Studies in Sales and Marketing (and How to Start Now)

Case studies are proof of successful client relations and a verifiable product or service. They persuade buyers by highlighting your customers' experiences with your company and its solution. In sales, case studies are crucial pieces of content that can be tailored to prospects' pain points and used throughout the buyer's journey. In marketing, case studies are versatile assets for generating business, providing reusable elements for ad and social media content, website material, and marketing c

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Bridging the Gap: From the Consulting Industry to the Management Consulting Profession

Effective Managers

In the world of consulting, a distinction is often overlooked: the difference between the industry at large and the profession of management consulting. This distinction is crucial, as it separates those who simply sell hours for dollars from those committed to a higher standard of service, ethics, and accountability. In this article, we explore this distinction, the role of ISO 20700 as a gateway to the profession, and how it paves the way towards certification as a Certified Management Consult

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How to Design Podcast Cover Art [10 Best Templates for 2024]

Buzzsprout

Podcast cover art is one of the most important pieces of your podcast's brand : it's the first thing potential listeners see in Apple Podcasts, it signifies the quality of your podcast, and 62% of new listeners are more likely to listen if they like its cover art. Follow this step-by-step guide to create high-quality podcast artwork that will make a great first impression. 12 tips to create excellent podcast cover art 1.

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You step up – I’ll step back: the coaching approach to becoming a leader

The Management Centre

=mc Director Laura Slater blogs on a the benefits of using the ‘coach approach’ with your teams. Here at =mc we know that stepping into leadership is a big deal. As you become more senior in an organisation, an exciting aspect of moving up is being able to actually set the direction for your team or department – and the organisation. However, this is not easy to do.