Published in Autumn 2020 print edition of Inside Small Business Magazine.
Small Businesses rely on consultants for a range of activities to meet their potential. However, without a clear direction no consultant can reach their potential.
Motivating Your Team: 25 Ways to Increase Employee EngagementRobert Half
A disengaged staff can have a significant negative effect on productivity, customer service levels and retention. This guide discusses how you can keep your workers inspired.
IN THIS SUMMARY
For people who long to be independent in their work and to make the most of their time, independent consulting may be the ideal. An Insider’s Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice by Bruce L. Katcher and Adam Snyder provides information that new consultants need to build their business and existing consultants need to accelerate their business. To be a successful independent consultant, it is important to develop a niche, market diligently, provide value to clients, and network for additional business. Independent consulting is not for everyone; but for those who are so inclined, independent consulting can lead to greater satisfaction, greater income, and greater freedom of time.
http://www.bizsum.com/summaries/insiders-guide-building-successful-consulting-practice
Motivating Your Team: 25 Ways to Increase Employee EngagementRobert Half
A disengaged staff can have a significant negative effect on productivity, customer service levels and retention. This guide discusses how you can keep your workers inspired.
IN THIS SUMMARY
For people who long to be independent in their work and to make the most of their time, independent consulting may be the ideal. An Insider’s Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice by Bruce L. Katcher and Adam Snyder provides information that new consultants need to build their business and existing consultants need to accelerate their business. To be a successful independent consultant, it is important to develop a niche, market diligently, provide value to clients, and network for additional business. Independent consulting is not for everyone; but for those who are so inclined, independent consulting can lead to greater satisfaction, greater income, and greater freedom of time.
http://www.bizsum.com/summaries/insiders-guide-building-successful-consulting-practice
7 ways to get more value from your precious customer insightMartin Wright
How often have you seen expensive research gathering dust; wasted and ignore? Insights capable of helping a company become fitter, more popular and richer crowded out by today’s urgent demands?
In this multi-channel, fast moving and competitive world understanding customers better has never been more important.
Here are seven things we do that help companies fully exploit the value locked in this rich resource. Some are simple, others require effort; all provide great value for money.
Leaders Lab look into some key consultancy styles, establishing the framework for effective consultancy; building trust, communicating, listening and advising.
Reassuring the employee engagement skeptics:
“back pocket” answers to respond and address concerns about your survey initiative
You are convinced of the need to measure and manage employee engagement in your organization. You’ve seen the benefits of higher morale, higher productivity, higher retention, and all the rest. Unfortunately, you’re also met with “the skeptics”: those people in your organization who are just not convinced the same way you are:
“Engagement surveys are so yesterday. We need a more novel approach”
“Engagement surveys are not really confidential”
“Engagement surveys don’t change anything. Nothing ever happens”
In this webinar, Norm Baillie-David, will provide you with experience and keen insight into what the real insecurities are when people put forward these and other objections. Better yet, this webinar will arm you with evidence and facts from decades of research in order to address these issues and convince “the skeptics” in your organization of the benefits of actively measuring and managing employee engagement.
Tm webinar june__improving engagement at eia_final_25jun15TalentMap
In 2014, EIA conducted its first employee engagement survey with TalentMap. The results clearly showed that stresses and change over the previous year had taken their toll on employee engagement, which was 11% below the benchmark average. Less than one year later, a subsequent “pulse” survey showed significant improvement in engagement, and double-digit increases in the key drivers of engagement which were actioned.
Are you a Business Consultant, Coach, or Mentor? Looking for fantastic tools and resources available to you 24/7 to assist your clients? Then try FAQSupport.
Flawless Consulting Contracting, Increase Your Impact & Influence
Based on the work of Peter Block.
Partner with your clients; develop powerful influencing skills’ use your expertise to greater effect;
Develop your leadership skills; negotiate more effective and enduring agreements. SABPP accredited, carrying 4 CPD points.
Date: 15 & 16 November 2016
Cost: R4,500.00 excl VAT (SPECIAL OFFER - promo code FC1008)
Contact: johleen@symphonia.net | 021 913 3507
Organizational Change Management: Game Changer or Flavor of the day?Deepak Babbar
This abstract reflects some of the practical challenges organizations undergoing business and information technology (IT) transformations face in today’s rapidly changing environment. When organizations embark on these large-scale initiatives, increasingly they are adding organizational change management (OCM) to the mix. This is, perhaps, an acknowledgement that previous initiatives have not met the mark because the people side of change was underestimated or not factored in.
Overview and details of Peter Block's concepts of Flawless Consulting.The core transaction of any consulting contract is the transfer of expertise from the consultant
to the client. Whatever the expertise, it’s the basis for the consultant’s being in business.
Different services offered by management consultancy firmsnajibsayegh1
Gulf Resources is one of the leading Management Consultancy Firms in Dubai and specialize in helping business from different industries in establishing a successful venture anywhere in the UAE.
Developing your Employee Engagement Strategy for Business Success: Part 1People Lab
Employee Engagement is a term used in organisations around the world, but how do you actually do it? In this presentation, People Lab's Director Emma Bridger looks at the key components of the concept, helping you to understand how you can create successful, sustainable engagement.
How to Improve Engagement Through Better Teamwork (and It's Not Through "Team...TalentMap
A sense of team and camaraderie is one of the most important determinants of employee engagement. For the employee, good team spirit work creates that crucial sense of belonging which provides the emotional bond to the organization, which is a precursor to engagement. In turn, good team spirit creates an environment of cooperation and collaboration which improves productivity and output.
The ultimate hiring tool box for small medium businessDaorong Lin
Recruiting and hiring the right candidates takes time, energy, and patience. As a small business, you’re already running on empty. That’s why we at LinkedIn developed this hiring toolbox full of forms, checklists, templates, and tips for you to use at each stage of your recruiting and hiring process.
7 ways to get more value from your precious customer insightMartin Wright
How often have you seen expensive research gathering dust; wasted and ignore? Insights capable of helping a company become fitter, more popular and richer crowded out by today’s urgent demands?
In this multi-channel, fast moving and competitive world understanding customers better has never been more important.
Here are seven things we do that help companies fully exploit the value locked in this rich resource. Some are simple, others require effort; all provide great value for money.
Leaders Lab look into some key consultancy styles, establishing the framework for effective consultancy; building trust, communicating, listening and advising.
Reassuring the employee engagement skeptics:
“back pocket” answers to respond and address concerns about your survey initiative
You are convinced of the need to measure and manage employee engagement in your organization. You’ve seen the benefits of higher morale, higher productivity, higher retention, and all the rest. Unfortunately, you’re also met with “the skeptics”: those people in your organization who are just not convinced the same way you are:
“Engagement surveys are so yesterday. We need a more novel approach”
“Engagement surveys are not really confidential”
“Engagement surveys don’t change anything. Nothing ever happens”
In this webinar, Norm Baillie-David, will provide you with experience and keen insight into what the real insecurities are when people put forward these and other objections. Better yet, this webinar will arm you with evidence and facts from decades of research in order to address these issues and convince “the skeptics” in your organization of the benefits of actively measuring and managing employee engagement.
Tm webinar june__improving engagement at eia_final_25jun15TalentMap
In 2014, EIA conducted its first employee engagement survey with TalentMap. The results clearly showed that stresses and change over the previous year had taken their toll on employee engagement, which was 11% below the benchmark average. Less than one year later, a subsequent “pulse” survey showed significant improvement in engagement, and double-digit increases in the key drivers of engagement which were actioned.
Are you a Business Consultant, Coach, or Mentor? Looking for fantastic tools and resources available to you 24/7 to assist your clients? Then try FAQSupport.
Flawless Consulting Contracting, Increase Your Impact & Influence
Based on the work of Peter Block.
Partner with your clients; develop powerful influencing skills’ use your expertise to greater effect;
Develop your leadership skills; negotiate more effective and enduring agreements. SABPP accredited, carrying 4 CPD points.
Date: 15 & 16 November 2016
Cost: R4,500.00 excl VAT (SPECIAL OFFER - promo code FC1008)
Contact: johleen@symphonia.net | 021 913 3507
Organizational Change Management: Game Changer or Flavor of the day?Deepak Babbar
This abstract reflects some of the practical challenges organizations undergoing business and information technology (IT) transformations face in today’s rapidly changing environment. When organizations embark on these large-scale initiatives, increasingly they are adding organizational change management (OCM) to the mix. This is, perhaps, an acknowledgement that previous initiatives have not met the mark because the people side of change was underestimated or not factored in.
Overview and details of Peter Block's concepts of Flawless Consulting.The core transaction of any consulting contract is the transfer of expertise from the consultant
to the client. Whatever the expertise, it’s the basis for the consultant’s being in business.
Different services offered by management consultancy firmsnajibsayegh1
Gulf Resources is one of the leading Management Consultancy Firms in Dubai and specialize in helping business from different industries in establishing a successful venture anywhere in the UAE.
Developing your Employee Engagement Strategy for Business Success: Part 1People Lab
Employee Engagement is a term used in organisations around the world, but how do you actually do it? In this presentation, People Lab's Director Emma Bridger looks at the key components of the concept, helping you to understand how you can create successful, sustainable engagement.
How to Improve Engagement Through Better Teamwork (and It's Not Through "Team...TalentMap
A sense of team and camaraderie is one of the most important determinants of employee engagement. For the employee, good team spirit work creates that crucial sense of belonging which provides the emotional bond to the organization, which is a precursor to engagement. In turn, good team spirit creates an environment of cooperation and collaboration which improves productivity and output.
The ultimate hiring tool box for small medium businessDaorong Lin
Recruiting and hiring the right candidates takes time, energy, and patience. As a small business, you’re already running on empty. That’s why we at LinkedIn developed this hiring toolbox full of forms, checklists, templates, and tips for you to use at each stage of your recruiting and hiring process.
What Everyone Should Know About Small Business ConsultantJohn Parker
Everyone knows the term ‘Small business consultant’ but the actually the meaning of the expression is vague to most of us. To understand this, we need to answer a few questions on what do these professionals do? How good they are for their client and do we really need their services?
10 Steps to the Perfect Interim Hire - Network Executiveaglass3
Interim management has rapidly risen in popularity in recent years to become one of the most highly
favoured strategic resources to effect fast change and progress when organisations need it most...
Good day,
Please find attached the October 2017 edition of our very informative Newsletter. Apologies for the tardiness.
We look forward to your continuing support and comments. Please send all comments and suggestions to training@kawmanagement.com or training.kawmgmt@candw.ag.
Happy reading.
Five things to do before hiring a consultantCraig Sherrett
To get the most out of your third party consultants
you need to prepare your company. Here are five actions everyone should take to ensure your next engagement is successful.
RMD24 | Retail media: hoe zet je dit in als je geen AH of Unilever bent? Heid...BBPMedia1
Grote partijen zijn al een tijdje onderweg met retail media. Ondertussen worden in dit domein ook de kansen zichtbaar voor andere spelers in de markt. Maar met die kansen ontstaan ook vragen: Zelf retail media worden of erop adverteren? In welke fase van de funnel past het en hoe integreer je het in een mediaplan? Wat is nu precies het verschil met marketplaces en Programmatic ads? In dit half uur beslechten we de dilemma's en krijg je antwoorden op wanneer het voor jou tijd is om de volgende stap te zetten.
RMD24 | Debunking the non-endemic revenue myth Marvin Vacquier Droop | First ...BBPMedia1
Marvin neemt je in deze presentatie mee in de voordelen van non-endemic advertising op retail media netwerken. Hij brengt ook de uitdagingen in beeld die de markt op dit moment heeft op het gebied van retail media voor niet-leveranciers.
Retail media wordt gezien als het nieuwe advertising-medium en ook mediabureaus richten massaal retail media-afdelingen op. Merken die niet in de betreffende winkel liggen staan ook nog niet in de rij om op de retail media netwerken te adverteren. Marvin belicht de uitdagingen die er zijn om echt aansluiting te vinden op die markt van non-endemic advertising.
Cracking the Workplace Discipline Code Main.pptxWorkforce Group
Cultivating and maintaining discipline within teams is a critical differentiator for successful organisations.
Forward-thinking leaders and business managers understand the impact that discipline has on organisational success. A disciplined workforce operates with clarity, focus, and a shared understanding of expectations, ultimately driving better results, optimising productivity, and facilitating seamless collaboration.
Although discipline is not a one-size-fits-all approach, it can help create a work environment that encourages personal growth and accountability rather than solely relying on punitive measures.
In this deck, you will learn the significance of workplace discipline for organisational success. You’ll also learn
• Four (4) workplace discipline methods you should consider
• The best and most practical approach to implementing workplace discipline.
• Three (3) key tips to maintain a disciplined workplace.
Premium MEAN Stack Development Solutions for Modern BusinessesSynapseIndia
Stay ahead of the curve with our premium MEAN Stack Development Solutions. Our expert developers utilize MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, and Node.js to create modern and responsive web applications. Trust us for cutting-edge solutions that drive your business growth and success.
Know more: https://www.synapseindia.com/technology/mean-stack-development-company.html
Improving profitability for small businessBen Wann
In this comprehensive presentation, we will explore strategies and practical tips for enhancing profitability in small businesses. Tailored to meet the unique challenges faced by small enterprises, this session covers various aspects that directly impact the bottom line. Attendees will learn how to optimize operational efficiency, manage expenses, and increase revenue through innovative marketing and customer engagement techniques.
Personal Brand Statement:
As an Army veteran dedicated to lifelong learning, I bring a disciplined, strategic mindset to my pursuits. I am constantly expanding my knowledge to innovate and lead effectively. My journey is driven by a commitment to excellence, and to make a meaningful impact in the world.
What are the main advantages of using HR recruiter services.pdfHumanResourceDimensi1
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Discover the innovative and creative projects that highlight my journey throu...dylandmeas
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Unveiling the Secrets How Does Generative AI Work.pdfSam H
At its core, generative artificial intelligence relies on the concept of generative models, which serve as engines that churn out entirely new data resembling their training data. It is like a sculptor who has studied so many forms found in nature and then uses this knowledge to create sculptures from his imagination that have never been seen before anywhere else. If taken to cyberspace, gans work almost the same way.
Implicitly or explicitly all competing businesses employ a strategy to select a mix
of marketing resources. Formulating such competitive strategies fundamentally
involves recognizing relationships between elements of the marketing mix (e.g.,
price and product quality), as well as assessing competitive and market conditions
(i.e., industry structure in the language of economics).
A helping hand: The benefits of consultants to SMEs
1. 46 Inside Small Business | AUTUMN 2020
T
he most successful small
businesses and start-ups depend
heavily on consultants. They
allow the business access to the best
available talent for exactly the amount of
time that it is needed. When used wisely,
consultants can boost your business
to another level. While the consulting
industry is old and well established,
stories of ineffective consulting
engagements are common, however.
If this is the experience of your
business, I urge you to reflect on
your attitude and approach to using
consultants. Below are some steps
that you and your team can go through
to ensure that you apply a robust and
reliable structure to your approach to
engaging consultants, and to set them
up for the best chances for success.
WHAT PROBLEM IS YOUR
CONSULTANT SOLVING?
Before even considering engaging
a consultant, be clear on what the
problem to be solved is. This question
is deceptively simple, and often not
properly considered. If you fail to
properly define your problem, you are
setting up any consultant to fail.
A well thought-out problem definition
stage provides the foundation to allow
your consultant to best serve your
business. Depending on the skill set of
your consultant, they may even be able
to assist you in this task.
Some questions to ask and answer in
this phase include:
• Why was the project initiated? What is
the problem to be solved, and why is
important to solve it?
• Who are the stakeholders in the
project (internal to organisation and
external), and what are their interests?
• How does this initiative help achieve
the greater organisational needs?
• What are the constraints on the
project (budget, resources, time,
regulatory, etc)?
• How will you define successful
completion of the project?
WHY ARE YOU ENGAGING A
CONSULTANT?
There are several reasons to engage a
consultant. Here are a few of the most
common:
1. Specific technical skills are
required that do not exist within the
organisation.
2. The organisation is unable to recruit
sufficient personnel.
3. The need for personnel is seasonal or
sporadic, so it makes economic sense
to use consultants.
4. The consultant is part of a large
network and has access to experts as
required to solve a problem.
5. The consultant is required for
regulatory compliance.
6. An external perspective to the
problem is denied.
Having clarity around why you are
engaging a consultant will help decide
how to use the consultant. For example,
a consultant who is brought in for a
specific technical skill will be more
effective when they are given support
for tasks not requiring their specific
skills. In this phase you should determine
The benefits of consultants to SMEs.
WORKPLACE
A helping hand JAMES BAKER
Director,
Ars Imperatoria Consulting
46 Inside Small Business | AUTUMN 2020
2. 47AUTUMN 2020 | Inside Small Business
WORKPLACE
whether engaging a consultant is even
appropriate – are you better served
using internal employees to solve your
problem?
HOW ARE YOU ENGAGING YOUR
CONSULTANT?
The role that a consultant will take will
depend on the problem to be solved,
the consultant’s skill set and your own
organisations’ internal skill set. Some
of the ways that you may engage a
consultant are:
1. In advisory/coordinating capacity:
the consultant has been engaged
because of their high-level
understanding of the problem to be
solved. For them to be successful in
this model, sufficiently skilled people
need to be available to do the leg-
work. This can be particularly effective
for operational changes, where a
team must continue to perform tasks
after the consultant’s engagement
ends.
2. As part of a team: the consultant has
for practical purposes been brought
in as an employee. This can be
effective when the consultant has a
specific technical skill not available
internally, or when the person has
been engaged due to insufficient
internal staff.
3. To complete everything that needs
to be done: a brief is given to a
consultant to solve a problem, the
consultant goes away and comes
back with the finished product. In
some cases this may be the best
solution, however, in many cases this
is not the best or most cost-effective
outcome for your business. If you plan
to proceed with this option, ensure
that a clear brief has been provided
to the consultant, that they are given
necessary organisational information
and that they are able to complete the
brief in a cost-effective manner.
The optimal scope for your consultant
may include any mixture of the above,
and you may need more than one
consultant to fill different roles.
APPOINT A PROJECT SPONSOR
There are likely many people in your
business that will be affected by a
project. If you give them free reign,
managing all of these stakeholders can
make it impossible for your consultant to
do their job.
Ideally there should be one point
of contact within your organisation
that gives direction to the consultant
– that person is
responsible for
collating and
prioritising the
competing needs,
and seeking
information required
by the consultant
throughout your
organisation. If it
is necessary for
somebody other
than the project
sponsor to give
directions to your
consultant, this
should be clearly
documented, and
boundaries of that
person’s influence
established.
WHAT AUTHORITY
DOES YOUR
CONSULTANT
HAVE?
Projects often stall pending internal
approvals. This can (and often does)
result in projects being delayed for
extended periods.
In the planning phase, work through
each of the project activities and identify
tasks where the consultant will be
delegated authority to make decisions,
and if not who is responsible for making
these decisions.
Be realistic and recognise that
consultants are
engaged for a
specific skill set, and
accordingly authority
should be delegated if
this allows them to be
more effective in their
engagement.
BE OPEN AND
WILLING TO RECEIVE
BAD NEWS
If you (even
inadvertently) create
an environment where
consultants fear delivering bad news you
will likely only receive good news – until
it is too late. The earlier you receive bad
news, the easier and cheaper it is to
resolve the problems.
When seeking expert input, be very
careful to not guide your consultant
towards the answer that you want. If
you chastise a consultant for giving an
estimate that is too high or a pessimistic
opinion, they may revise the advise for
you. You will find out the true cost at
project completion.
POST ENGAGEMENT REVIEW
The success of your consultant will likely
depend as much on the support given
by your business as it does on their own
capability. If you do not provide a clear
engagement brief and sufficient support,
do not manage internal stakeholders
and are not clear on how your consultant
should interact with your staff, it can
become impossible for them to deliver an
optimal outcome.
It is too easy to
blame your consultant
if optimal outcomes
are not achieved. It is a
difficult pill to swallow
to accept some
responsibility for this
– however, you and
your organisation will
benefit greatly from
learning and improving
from previous
engagements. First
complete a thorough
and systematic review and ensure your
organisation did not contribute to the
outcome before blaming your consultant.
In addition to the above, do not forget
to review, identify and acknowledge
successful engagements. When your
team have worked to support the
success of a consultant this should
be acknowledged and rewarded to
build a culture of supporting external
assistance that you bring in for future
engagements.
“when seeking
expert input, be
very careful to
not guide your
consultant
towards the
answer that you
want.”