The Consultant's Handbook
A Practical Guide to Delivering High-value and Differentiated Services in a Competitive Marketplace
1. Edition June 2015
232 Pages, Hardcover
Practical Approach Book
Short Description
This comprehensive handbook untangles the key variables present in any consulting service and introduces practical ways to improve their effectiveness based upon the author's experience of helping consulting organisations to develop and excel in the marketplace. The book explores consulting 'from the ground up' steering away from theory and focusing instead on practical application, providing a solid platform upon which to build further domain-specific competence.
The Consultant's Handbook provides:
* An understanding of the key variables that can be addressed in order to improve one's own consulting performance
* A set of simple practices that can be implemented with immediate benefit to the reader
* Practical insight into day-to-day real life consulting interactions
* Confidence to implement the new ideas and approaches
Delivers the essential practical skills needed to consult and make sharp, well prepared interactions in a wide range of business situations
This comprehensive handbook covers the fundamental skills and attitudes required by successful consultants from novice to practitioner level, irrespective of their specialist area. It untangles the key variables present in any consulting service and introduces practical ways to improve their effectiveness based upon the author's experience of helping consulting organisations to develop and excel in the marketplace. The book explores consulting 'from the ground up' steering away from theory and focusing instead on practical application, providing a solid platform upon which to build further domain-specific competence.
The Consultant's Handbook provides:
* An understanding of the key variables that can be addressed in order to improve one's own consulting performance
* A set of simple practices that can be implemented with immediate benefit to the reader
* Practical insight into day-to-day real life consulting interactions
* Confidence to implement the new ideas and approaches
INTRODUCTION 1
PART I - CONSULTING FUNDAMENTALS 3
Chapter 1: What is Consulting? 5
Chapter 2: Preparing to Consult 25
Chapter 3: Establishing Credibility 37
Chapter 4: Managing Client Meetings 47
PART II - CASE STUDIES 61
Case Study 1: Exploring a New Consulting Opportunity 63
Case Study 2: Presenting a Solution Approach 85
Case Study 3: Scoping a Study 101
PART III - Additional Topics 117
Chapter 5: Proposing a Consulting Service 119
Chapter 6: Delivering a Consulting Service 133
Chapter 7: Client Interactions and Related Obstacles 173
Chapter 8: The Skill of Advising 193
Index 215
"Enough good material here to interest those embarking on this career path" (The Irish Times, July 2015)
