Sure, an image consultant can be a boost to your career and social life. But here are three warnings you need to know before you hire an image consultant or personal shopper.

THE IMAGE CONSULTANT NEEDS TO SEE YOU

No image consultant can work in a vacuum. Put more simply, he needs your input. You can’t expect him to tell you what to wear, how to cut your hair, and how to act based on no information. He needs to see you, or at least see a photo.

It’s better if you can meet in person. Why? Then he can do a color analysis. This will let him see your tone and tell you what clothes will make you look great. So never forget to talk to your consultant and meet in person, if at all possible.

YOUR IMAGE CONSULTANT NEEDS TO FEEL YOUR EMOTION

Don’t be shy about expressing your feelings with your consultant. I’m a lawyer as well as an image consultant and I learned this lesson while practicing law. Many people feel that since they’re dealing with a professional they must be a cool, cold, unemotional client. Nothing could be further from the truth. The more you emote (within reason, of course) the more your image consultant will know how to make things work better for you.

Some clients are unemotional because they want the consultant to read their minds. Well, we can’t. The more we hear from you about what you wish to accomplish, the better we can help you do that. Emote. That means, show emotion. Tell us your feelings.

I once had a client who said she dreamed of being beautiful and winning awards. She almost had tears in her eyes when she said it. Then I knew what to do. Before you could say “Jack Rabbit” I had her in plaid skirts and black flats. She nearly won an award and went on into a modeling career. The fact that she had emoted, shown her emotions, is what made our work together a success.

So don’t hold back. Let your image consultant know your dreams. If you want to be as sexy as James Bond, tell us. We won’t think you’re being silly. In fact, we’ll help you get the 007 look. (This, by the way, is a very elegant style for men, including blazers and cool cotton dress shirts and trousers. We’ll even show you how to hide secret messages in the heel of your shoe.)

YOU NEED TO HAVE AN OPEN MIND TOWARD WHAT AN IMAGE CONSULTANT SAYS

Too many clients forget that they came to us to learn something new. In other words, once we make a suggestion, try to accept it with an open mind. We can back up our advice with research. We only ask that you try it. If it sounds unusual, that’s sometimes to your benefit. You may need to push the envelope a bit and venture into new territory for yourself. Get beyond your comfort zone and you’ll make progress.

If you let your consultant see you, if you express your feelings to your image consultant, and if you have an open mind toward what your image consultant says, you’re likely to find the process a total success and your image will shine brighter than you ever imagined it could.

Copyright (c) 2010 William Cane

The job market for consultants in the United Kingdom has grown steadily over the last decade. In the 1980s and 1990s, the term consultant was applicable to a much narrower band of niche areas, particularly within the defence and financial services sectors. Today, there are hundreds of specialised consultant positions that may be filled by experienced professionals and, in some areas, relatively recent graduates. Sales consultants work with sales people and departments to improve their pitch to customers. Technical IT consultants meet with IT departments, providing specialist knowledge and project skills across a huge range of applications and systems software. Consultants are often the key to success for a variety of firms because they provide an outsider’s opinion of internal business functions.

While the consultant job market has burgeoned in recent years, the competition for these positions remains exceptionally high. Young professionals who are perhaps trying to break into a particular industrial sector are working as freelance or long-term consultants; experienced professionals make a lot of money working within consulting firms that specialise in assisting defence, aerospace, manufacturing or other niche-market companies. There are hundreds, sometimes thousands, of applicants for each consulting position. Talented professionals need to learn the best ways of seeking out new jobs within their chosen fields

Young professionals who are lacking in contacts or experience should consider using a job agency to find temporary consulting jobs. Experience is king in many fields that value confidentiality and an ability to assess dynamic systems. As such, a young banking or telecommunications professional, with a few consulting jobs under their belt, goes into the interview process with an advantage over their competition. Job agencies are great incubators for talented consultants, as their clients provide opportunities for on-going professional development and coaching to their recruits.

However, more experienced professionals can pursue a wider course in order to find their ideal consulting job. Consultants in fields like financial services or defence often build connections through conferences, meetings, and partnerships constructed to complete larger projects. These connections comprise a resource that can be mobilised by consultants looking for a job, either as a means of discovering positions available or as references for future employers. However, experienced consultants should not shirk the obvious job listings available via publications or the Internet. Consultants in lower profile industries, like marine-engineering or publishing, may find a lot of jobs available on general job sites. Additionally, experienced workers can find consulting work by going directly to a firm’s career page online. Ultimately, it is extremely important for consultants to increase and maintain their connections in order to reap future rewards.

Using small business consulting services involves seeking out some professionals in your industry so that they can offer you advice based on their area of expertise. One of the best things about consulting services is that you can find it in a variety of topics including coaching, marketing, finance and legal.

The one thing that you want to think about with consulting is that professional consultants are considered experts in their field so make sure you do your due diligence before hiring a consultant.

What work is involved in consulting?

With consulting, what happens is that the consultant is providing their clients with information, like white papers but they also provide their clients with some first-hand expert knowledge based on years of experience in the trenches.

Basically they serve as your counsel. Not to give you opinions but to give you sound advice based on facts and past successes.

With a consultant all of the information that they provide is going to be tailored to a specific area because what they are trying to do is provide their clients with advice to help solve a problem in the fastest time possible.

Small business consulting services also provide their clients with brainstorming ideas to help find solutions and they can often provide their customers with new ideas on how to handle different aspects of their business.

One point small business owners need to understand is, that consultants are only as good as the information you provide to them. You need to give them some detailed info about your business so they can put their teeth into it and chew on it.

If you give them very vague information they will lead you in all kinds of different directions. And then you have to figure out which way to take, not them.

What makes a great consulting service?

Consultants have specific traits that make them better than other consultants, so when choosing a consultant you want to look for these traits to find the best one for your purposes.

Great consultants provide their clients with motivation and excellent ideas. They are also prepared to deal with any type of situation, no matter how complex or hostile it might be.

They must use their skills to assess a situation quickly and provide advice on what needs to be done to solve the situation.

Types of consulting services

In consulting there are two types of consultants, which are specialists and generalists.

- a specialist focuses on a specific area, such as a specific industry like accounting.

- the generalist focuses on a larger area of consulting, they tend to give advice to many different companies, and industry specific advice is not their main focus.

The best services out there are not only giving advice but also bring a lot more to the table. Top services are going to be able to bring ideas to their clients based on their area of expertise, share insights, new trends, provide customers with creative solutions and implement the solutions that they are suggesting.

If you’re looking for small business consulting services pick a consulting company that is specialized in one subject area for example marketing strategies. Most importantly look for consultants that are people persons and are willing to work long hard hours according to your schedule.

Information Technology companies provide businesses with IT advice. However, not all of them provide good advice, and consulting with one that does not could be a nightmare for your business. If the company proposes the wrong solution, your business could lose more than investment capital; it could also lose productivity, or even the ability to protect its data.

Selecting the right consultant is one of the most important decisions a business can make. If your business needs the help of one, the tips below will help you find one that offers the good advice:

Choose a Consultant Who Specializes in What You Need

Some businesses assume that such a consultant has expertise in all areas of Information Technology, which is like assuming a lawyer can handle any legal case. In reality, consultants have areas they specialize in, areas they are proficient in, and areas where they lack proficiency. If you need a particular solution, choose a consultant who has experience providing that solution.

Choose a Consultant Who Offers Managed Solutions

Implementing software programs on an in-house model is becoming less popular, and for a good reason: implementing them on a Software as a Service (SaaS) model is less expensive, and it often results in better performance from the program, as the provider always keeps the program up to date.

Data storage is another area where managed solutions can save you money. Instead of maintaining your own servers offsite, you can place your encrypted data on the storage servers of a managed IT support provider.

Choose a Consultant Who Listens to Your Problem

You can think of these consultants as doctors who diagnose computer, network, or peripheral problems. If the consultant does not listen to the symptoms of the problem, a wrong diagnosis can be made.

Consultants who are poor listeners often recommend a solution without asking detailed questions – a sign of incompetence that some companies mistake for a sign of expertise. If a current professional seems to know the solution to a problem before you adequately describe it, find a consultant who will listen.

Choose a Consultant Who Stands Firm on the Optimal Solution

Those who care about their reputation will not sell you a sub-par solution. Instead, they will stand firm on providing you the solution that truly meets your needs. Sometimes, this steadfastness is mistaken for something it is not: the desire to make money by pushing a certain solution. On the contrary, consultants who are only out to make money are usually willing to sell a business anything.

Choose a Consultant Who has Strong References

Consultants receive most of their clients based on the strength of their references. So, be sure to ask a consultant for several references to current or former clients whose situation was similar to yours. Before you speak with the references, develop a list of questions that target what you need to know about the consultant.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Information Technology consultant is an important decision, and the tips above can help you make the right choice. With the right IT consulting company on its side, your business can experience increased success through managed IT support and other crucial services.

Are you thinking about adding some horsepower to your organization’s team by bringing on a consultant?

I have had a lot of fun over the last 30 years consulting with all types of organizations: independent businesses, ministries, Fortune 100 corporations, not-for-profit enterprises, and start-up ventures.

I have seen many organizations benefit greatly from the contribution of consultants. Unfortunately, I have also seen many consulting relationships that were disappointing and even harmful to the organization.

To help you have the best experience possible, I’ve put together the following seven questions to ask when “shopping” for a consultant,:

Question #1: Are They a “Big Black Binder” Consultant?

There are several national consulting firms whose model is to obtain an up-front fee ($20,000 to $80,000!) and then send a team that “Blows In, Blows Up, and Blows Out.” They are on-site for a month or so and when they are finished, they leave behind the proverbial Big Black Binder. I have carefully reviewed several of these Big Black Binders and frankly, many of them are well written and have good business info in them. The problem is, I have never YET met an organization that implemented the suggestions in the Big Black Binder. While the content may have been great, the organization was left on its own to carry out the changes.

What business leaders need is regular, consistent help from a consultant who knows them personally and understands the goals of their organization. I prefer to build a strong relationship with the client and communicate very frequently. This almost always leads to a long-term relationship that is productive and affordable. Speaking of affordable…

Question #2: Is Your Consultant’s Fee Affordable?

Consulting clients should be offered an affordable, set, monthly fee. This way, they can budget their consulting investment into their cash flow.

A while back, I was reviewing one of my client’s financial statements with them. When we got to the line where my monthly fee was posted, the client remarked good-naturedly, “Well, we know what THAT expense is for, don’t we!”

Then, to my surprise, he sat up straight in his chair and looked me right in the eye. He said, “Chris, all kidding aside, let me tell you something about our fee.”

Not being quite sure what he was going to say next, I said, “OK, what’s that?”

He said, “Chris, your fee is less than I pay the receptionist. For that amount, I get a seasoned executive on my team with over 30 years experience. Chris, I don’t mind saying this…You’re the best value on my staff.”

Your consultant should make you feel great about the value they return for your investment in their services.

Question #3: How Much Access Will You Have To Your Consultant?

Will you be able to get in touch with your consultant easily? Will they respond promptly to your phone calls and email messages?

You need to be able to ask questions and bring issues to your consultant in real-time. Each of my clients has my direct phone number, and all of my team members are required to respond to all client inquiries as soon as possible, but certainly no later than “before the sun sets twice.”

Question #4: What Resources Does Your Consultant Bring to the Table?

Are you considering an individual consultant who has a “platinum” resume? Even if he or she is part of a 10 member firm, your business will be limited in the amount of intellectual resources available to it.

A consultant needs to have access to a large network of colleague who can help with any business issue a client faces. These networks can be an invaluable resource for promoting the client’s services, finding specialist support, or opening new markets for clients.

I like to tell my prospective clients, “When you have me on your team, you get my 30+ years of business experience, PLUS access to an international network of over 5,000 top executive advisors!”

Question #5: Is Your Consultant a Cutter or a Grower?

Here we get into differences in personalities and business philosophies. I was an employee of a company that brought in a consultant to help them become more profitable. The consultant began with a savage campaign of systematically cutting over two-thirds of the staff. They then began cutting expenses in employee benefits, advertising, marketing, sales, customer service, and product development.

When they were done, the expenses of the organization had definitely been cut, but they were left with virtually no resources to retain their customers or to solicit new business.

My experience has shown that just cutting expenses does not result in increased profits, especially when you cut back on items that motivate your staff and encourage prospective customers to spend their dollars with you.

I prefer to GROW businesses, by asking these questions: How can we use the resources we have to become more profitable? What new products can we introduce with little or modest investment? What ideas does the staff have that can help us to grow?

With proper consulting leadership, there are usually adequate resources of personnel and finances in the organization to begin executing an exciting and rewarding business growth strategy.

Question #6: Does Your Consultant Have a Bill of Goods They Want to Sell You?

I was introduced to a business owner who really wanted help with her organization’s business plan. She was, however, very hesitant about working with a consultant because of the bad experience she had with her last one.

She explained to me that the consultant insisted that her business could only be profitable if she outsourced her Payroll, Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing, and even Sales. After a confusing and time-consuming transfer of services, the business owner learned that the consultant received commissions from all of her new service providers. And, to add insult to injury, they were all costing her more than before!

When a consultant is asked to help in choosing business-to-business service providers, loyalty should be to the client. I don’t believe it is ethical to try and make a few extra bucks by steering them to vendors who serve the consultant instead of the client.

Question #7: Are They Suggesting a Pre-determined Mold for Your Business?

Far too often, I have heard of consultants trying to force an organization’s operation into a model the consultant wants, instead of carefully defining what the organization needs.

Every organization is unique and has its own personality. There are, however, broad business practices that are healthy for all organizations to embrace. What I find works best is to have some general rails to run on by laying out a Business Operations Blueprint with the client.

The blueprint components include the Vision and Mission Statements, Goals and Objectives, Performance Metrics, the Financial Plan and Financial Review, the Operations Model, Staffing Services, Projects, Research & Development, Marketing, and Sales.

When I begin working with a client, the most important thing for me to do is…listen! Honest, open discussions will determine the critical issues that need immediate attention. Whether there is a toxic staffing issue that needs to be corrected or marketing is not producing adequate sales to keep the doors open, it is imperative to make use of proven business growth strategies. A customized blueprint will make it possible to lay out simple, daily tasks that will accomplish the goals and objectives of the organization.

I trust that this article will help you to have a productive and profitable relationship with your consultant. Here’s to your success!

© 2009 ChrisHart1 Consulting