Successful Consulting: Be Professional

I remember the early days of our consulting business when we got a laser printer back when not many people had one. (Yes, that would be a very long time ago!) It really made documents looks nice. It made our proposals look very professional, and it made our small company look like a big company.  Our professional image made a real difference in the clients we could get. A successful consultant must look, talk, and act like a professional.

Look like a Professional

If you want people to respect you as a professional you need to look the part.  I know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but people do. For me, looking like a professional means dressing at the same level or one level higher than those you work with or call on.  For example, if your clients wear shirts and slacks, you wear a sports coat.  The care you show in your appearance reflects the care you show in your work.

The work you deliver should look professional.  Never hand in sloppy work.  Always take the effort to make your proposals and the work you deliver look polished.  The tools we have today make it easy to do. I recently used Kinko’s to do printing and binding. They work quickly and can help you put the finishing touches on your handouts or proposals.  Project a professional image by making the results of your work look great.

Communicate like a Professional

Sound professional whenever you talk. Much of our society has become lazy in their speech. We use to too much slang, use bad grammar, have become casual in our speech, and many do not hesitate to curse in business situations.  Choose your works carefully, constantly improve your vocabulary, and always speak respectfully. You set a professional tone in your relationships with clients when you talk with them in a professional manner.

The same goes for email.  Treat each email just as you would a written letter.  Use full sentences, and check the spelling.  Don’t use text message abbreviations. Format your emails so they look nice.  Use white space and keep the emails short.  Proof-read your email before you click send.  Don’t use emails to send bad news, express strong disagreement or criticize.  Those situations are still best handled in person. You may not gain much respect by carefully working your emails, but you stand to lose respect from sloppy, haphazard emails.

Act like a Professional

The way you act around your clients will also determine how they judge your professional performance.  Work hard, and stay focused on your work. Do what you say will do, and always deliver your work on time. Respect the position, time, space and feelings of others. If you have act with some class, you will enhance clients’ perceptions about your competence and professional skills.

Projecting a professional image will give you an advantage over those who don’t make the effort. Clients want to be around professionals. The image you present to clients will help you get work, keep work and get the follow-up work. Act like a professional and you will be a successful consultant.

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2. Successful Consulting..15 years of learning
3. Successful Consulting: Be Efficient