September 2nd, 2011
Attending conferences is a time and money-intensive effort. You take time out of your consulting practice, often travel a far distance, and so you want to get a return on your investment (ROI). A few years ago before Confab, by chance I pulled out a book I had bought and flipped it open to preview the contents. Wouldn’t you know I flipped to a chapter called “Be a Conference Commando?”
Now, for those of you who know me, that’s a little strong language for me. Commando? I don’t think so. But “be in command” at the next conference I go to? Yup, that sounds good. The book is Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. (I’m also reading another Ferrazzi book – Who’s Got Your Back?) Here are a few tips from the ‘Be a Conference Commando” chapter in Never Eat Alone:
- Help or be the organizer
- Speak
- Organize a dinner, mini-conference, event or tour within the conference
- “Draft off a big kahuna” – hang with the most influential people at the conference
- Be an information hub and provide introductions, restaurant and entertainment suggestions, etc.
- “Master the deep bump” (in networking situations listen, establish a personal connection, and then move on.) I kid you not – read the book!
- Target individual attendees in advance
- Use breaks to network and connect
- Follow up
- It’s the people, not the speakers
- Don’t be a wallflower, ankle hugger (Ferrazzi describes this person as a co-dependent who sees the first person they meet at the conference as their BFF – best friend forever), celebrity hound, a smarmy eye darter or a business card dispenser.
Will you be a conference commando at Confab? Who do you think is a big kahuna at Confab? Do you have other tips to add for how to get the most out of a conference? Please comment below.
Jennifer Beever, CMO for Hire, New Incite
Confab Marketing Chair
Tags: commando, conference, consultants
Posted in About Confab, Confab 2011, Discussions | No Comments »
October 21st, 2010
This year the Confab committee decided to continue to reduce the amount of paper we distribute even more – and we need your support!
We will be offering most conference materials in both paper and “soft copy” versions. We have found that many participants bring their laptops and view the handouts electronically. A week before Confab, each participant will receive a link to the presentation materials and handouts so they can download the materials they want. In fact, all presentations will only be available electronically.
Before Confab, participants will also receive an email with links to the on-line evaluation form (created by our exhibitor, Agile Northwest), the on-line questions for the Talk Show, as well as various other information bulletins.
Watch your email for the links and help us reduce waste!
Posted in Confab 08 | No Comments »
September 30th, 2010
If there is one thing that wide access to media has accomplished for the masses is that it has increased the amount of noise. Consultants and clients alike are bombarded with information from multiple sources and varied authenticity. Sifting through this maze of conflicting and sometimes misleading information can be very difficult and in the case of consultant work can be detrimental to a successful project.
For consultants the problem begins when clients start to reference the noise to learn more about the services being provided. Depending on the number of competitors in a space the conflicting expertise and advice can both confuse and misinform clients in regard to the solutions and exercises utilized by the consultant. It has become common for consultants to be challenged about their methodology because the client “has this friend who once worked in a similar field and that is not how he would do it”.
To combat the noise successful clients can utilize the following recommendations:
- Accept the noise – know going into a project that your client will reference competing information sources to challenge and understand your services. To combat this problem address the major arguments upfront to mitigate future headaches and consistently monitor the noise to be proactive on new variables.
- Educate in Advance – during the courting phase take the time to educate your clients on the basic parameters of your services. In some cases providing a written “xyz” consulting dictionary can help better establish your firm as the go to in the field.
- Sit in the Clients’ Chair – clients are not looking to sabotage your efforts or undermine your expertise. If during the project they begin to question your practices take a step back to understand where they are coming from. Are they being courted by a competitor? Has their budget changed? Are they not happy with progress? Understanding the reason for the challenge can help you establish a means for counteracting and appeasing the client.
Looking into the crystal ball it appears that noise will be a consistent part of our world for the foreseeable future. Being aware of the impact of this noise and establishing a game plan for counteracting its affects can go a long way towards the success of your consulting practice.
Tags: consultant, consulting business, expertise
Posted in Confab 2010 Build Your Consulting Business | No Comments »
September 27th, 2010
With the recent release of the sequel to the first “Wall Street” movie I took the opportunity this past weekend to revisit the original work. What struck me immediately was how much technology has changed in the workplace. The computers, phones, office spaces, and communication environs have changed so drastically that it is almost hard to fathom the depth of the change. As consultants our ethical and practical world has changed drastically as a result of this same technology shift. Greed may have been good back in the 80′s but now it is a matter of being ethical and legally sound.
Luckily for those attending Confab 2010 there is the opportunity to attend Lauren Bloom’s “Ethics and Professionalism in the Digital Age“. This session is designed to provide consultants with a legal look at how to properly use available technologies to protect client interests and cover our practices from potential problems.
With the rapid growth of social networking, free access to content, and multiple avenues for potential liability this session will be a great opportunity to look at the digital age with a legal eye. Much like the contrast of the two Wall Street films, consultants will leave this session with a different take on the use of data in the digital age.
Tags: session
Posted in Confab 2010 Build Your Consulting Business, Topics | No Comments »
September 24th, 2010
LinkedIn? “Okay, if I have to….”
Facebook? “Maybe, to connect with my kids and grandkids….”
Twitter? “Are you kidding me?”
I’ve been speaking on Social Media Marketing for the last two years. At first whenever I said the word “Twitter,” people in the audience laughed. A majority sat there with their arms crossed, as if to say, “No way, no how!” But in the last few months I’ve noticed a shift. The arms are not crossed (well, there is always that one guy – and yes, it is always a guy!).
But now consultants, business owners and service professionals are starting to realize the value of social media. They’ve seen that social media presence drives search engine results, and that by blogging, tweeting and updating their status on sites like LinkedIn, they stay in front of their colleagues and clients in a credible way. The question consultants are asking this year is not so much “Why social media?,” it’s “How do I do it?” and “How much time does it take?”
If consultants have questions about social media, Confab includes some presentations that have answers. In the last general session of the conference, I’m presenting Social Media Marketing Machine. In this presentation I’m going to show you how to set up your own social media marketing machine, tell you exactly what social media tools to use to streamline the process, and tell you how much time your social media marketing machine will take.
How can you get ready to create your Social Media Marketing Machine before Confab? Create a Twitter profile and start following some of your consulting colleagues. Listen to what they have to say. Follow Confab – our Twitter name is @confabusa. Follow IMC at @IMCUSA.
What do you think? Are consultants the last to adopt social media? Please comment below.
I look forward to seeing you at Confab!
Photo from Flickr, 
Some rights reserved by Stefan Baudy
Tags: conference, consultants, social media
Posted in Discussions, Topics | No Comments »
September 23rd, 2010
Confab 2010 kicks off in exactly one month. Taking place at Silver Legacy Resort in Reno, Nevada the consulting conference for consultants by consultants looks to be one of the best ever. Check out the list of attendees already registered over at the event sign-up page. Is your name on that list? If not, it is time to register! The early bird discount ends next week.
Reno in mid-October means great weather and great scenery. If you have a few extra days of buffer around the conference plan on taking a side trip up to Lake Tahoe to enjoy the fall colors and crisp mountain air. Or head southeast to Carson City and the old gold rush town of Virginia City. With a number of great museums and points of historical interest these destinations will not disappoint.
As the date approaches continue to check-in here for more updates or follow us on Twitter for breaking news. Finally make sure to get the word out to other consultants.
Tags: consultant
Posted in Confab 2010 Build Your Consulting Business | No Comments »
September 22nd, 2010
When clients buy consulting services, they are buying YOU, the consultant. That’s why a great headshot photo is so important for every consultant to have on their web bio page and in their print material.
In 2009 at Confab, the conference for consultants by consultants, we brought in a local photographer who set up a photo booth and offered to take headshot photos for all attendees. Attendees could sign up when they checked in for the conference. The photographer filled all of their available time slots and added more to accomodate consultants who wanted to take advantage of high quality photos at a reasonable cost.
Guess what? We’re doing it again in 2010. All consultants will have an opportunity to get a new headshot photo taken at Confab. How can you take advantage of this great offer?
- Check-in early and make sure you sign-up for a photo appointment.
- Plan your attire ahead of time – you might have a photo taken with a suit and tie (for men) as well as a photo without the jacket for a more casual look.
- Pay extra attention to your haircut and (for ladies) makeup.
I look forward to seeing you at Confab!
Jennifer Beever CMC
Confab Marketing Chair
Tags: consultant, headshot, photo
Posted in Confab 2010 Build Your Consulting Business | No Comments »
September 21st, 2010
One of the most valuable things about attending a consulting seminar is the ability to gain knowledge in areas you might not otherwise be able to explore. When evaluating a particular consulting seminar it is a good idea to look at the various workshops the seminar has to offer and see how each of those workshops might apply to your own business.
Confab 2010 is five weeks away and the committee has locked down a great list of speakers and topics. The early registration discount ends on Oct 1 so get your registration submitted before then. Also, if you don’t see a topic you are interested in let us know. With the wide variety of backgrounds and experiences encompassed by the attendees you are sure to get great feedback and advise simply by meeting and mingling with others.
Tags: expertise, session
Posted in Confab 2010 Build Your Consulting Business, Topics | No Comments »
September 15th, 2010
Rather than get all fancy on typing this up it seems the press release can stand on its own:
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Institute of Management Consultants USA (IMC USA), the certifying body and professional association for U.S.-based management consultants and management consulting firms, has earned the prestigious International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO/IEC 17024:2003 accreditation for its Certified Management Consultant™ (CMC®) certification process.
IMC USA is only the third institute to gain ISO recognition which further substantiates the high professional standards and ethics IMC USA has set as a benchmark for its certification process and the CMC, a competency-based certification awarded to those management consultants who have met global professional standards of competence, professionalism and ethics.
“This comes at a significant time when American business demands proven experience and ethical behavior,” said Dr. Drumm McNaughton, Chairman and CEO of IMC USA. “Organizations can be confident that consultants with CMCs have a history of excellent performance in delivering results, have met world class standards of competence, ethics and client satisfaction and have maintained a level of professionalism through education and periodic certificate renewal.”
IMC USA is the only U.S. entity to provide certification for individual management consultants and management consulting firms (CMC Firm™) which conforms to the international standards of the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes. The ICMCI sets the global standards for consulting competence and professional conduct for consultants and firms in more than 47 nations; and therefore, CMCs are eligible for reciprocity in all 47 countries. There are 10,000 CMCs worldwide.
The CMC certification is awarded by IMC USA to those consultants who have met global professional standards of performance that include technical and consulting competencies, ethics knowledge and application, client and project management skills and professional and personal conduct. A CMC candidate must submit to a rigorous vetting process including the submission of blind satisfaction surveys from clients, taking in-depth examinations covering consulting competencies and ethics, and sitting for a panel interview conducted by senior CMCs.
CMC Requirements
IMC USA certifies CMCs through a rigorous process. Members of the IMC USA in good standing applying for CMC designation must meet requirements including:
- Experience: Three years in practice as a full-time consultant, with engagement management responsibility.
- Education: A degree from a four-year college or significant experience in consulting to management.
- References: Five satisfactory references from officers or executives of client organizations.
- Client Case Histories: Written descriptions of five client engagements, including problems addressed, solutions provided and results achieved.
- Competence: A qualifying written examination and an oral review conducted by senior CMCs to demonstrate proficiencies in areas of specialization and applied experience in a range of consulting disciplines.
- Ethics: A written examination and oral interview on the IMC Code of Ethics and ethical aspects of consulting.
- Ongoing Education: Commitment to ongoing professional education
- Renewal of certification every three years.
ABOUT IMC USA
Since 1968, the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC USA) has set the standards for competency, professionalism and ethics for the consulting profession in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., the nonprofit IMC USA is a charter member of the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI), a 47-nation body that sets global standards for competence, professionalism and ethics for management consultants. IMC USA has approximately 2,000 individual members and 21 chapters throughout the country. IMC USA’s certification process has earned the prestigious ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation.
For more information on the Institute of Management Consultants USA or the CMC® designation visit IMC USA’s website at http://www.imcusa.org.
ABOUT ISO
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a worldwide federation of 145 standards bodies. Globally accepted as a the gold standard for organizations that certify processes worldwide, the ISO is a non-governmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland and is the world’s largest developer and publisher of international standards.
Tags: consultant, consulting business
Posted in About Confab, Confab 2010 Build Your Consulting Business | No Comments »
September 13th, 2010
The sign of the times is most prominently found in the M&A market for consulting firms; for example PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to acquire Diamond Management & Technology Consultants, Inc. for $378 million. To continue growing the larger firms are actively seeking and acquiring smaller firms in cash heavy deals that are turning very lucrative for the acquired company owners.
Confab 2010, lucky for you, will contain a session right down this ally: From Zero to Forty Million in Consulting Fees
Starting a consulting practice can be challenging on its own. By establishing some growth and management principles from the get go firms can increase their value, and buy-ability, for long run success. With the stagnating economy and long range cloudiness maybe your consulting practice can be the answer for a large firm in a few years too.
Tags: consultant
Posted in Discussions | No Comments »
