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you are only as good as your last job.
Some suggestions for developing your area of expertise? Write articles on your area of expertise, speak at conferences, seminars etc, and join professional organisations that focus on your area of expertise. If you are that way inclined, join the committees of these organisations. You can always start your own website or blog on your area of expertise as well.
My own area of expertise is management training, and in particular "hands on tools for new managers", so you can see the results at “Tips for New Managers” (www.nationallearninginstitute.com/index_files/Leadersandmanagestipsforsuccess.htm)
Secondly, find a mentor who can assist with your development over the longer term. These people are not so easy to find, so be patient. They must be experts in your chosen field of expertise and be willing to pass on their knowledge and experience freely to you. You also need to develop a good personal relationship with them. I've been lucky enough to work for one many years ago (Dennis Pratt author of "Aspiring to Greatness – Above and Beyond TQM", Business & Professional Publishing, Sydney, 1994) who became my mentor and who has remained a mentor for me ever since.
Thirdly, find a coach. This type of person is quite different to your mentor. Your coach is someone who will be able to help you in developing your skills as a (as opposed to developing your area of expertise). These people you must find very early on in your career as a consultant, because they are very good "process" managers (as opposed to "content" managers, content being your area of expertise).
They can often be bosses you work for (so choose wisely) or business partners with more consultancy expertise than yourself. Sometimes your mentor and coach can be one and the same person, but this is rare. One of the differences for spotting a coach from a mentor is that your coach will have a commercial interest in your success (boss, partner, business associate), so he or she is committed to you for the short term. Your mentor on the other hand, will not necessarily have the same commercial and vested interest and will become your mentor because of his or her willingness to share their knowledge and the extent to which you build the relationship with them, and so will be committed to you for the long term.
Finally, gain experience. This generally only comes with time. When I say experience, I am not so much referring to your experience as a (although this will come), but your experience IN your chosen area of expertise. For example, let's say in my case it's "hands on tools for new managers" - I really do need to be a new manager before I can offer other people advice on their own development. This will be particularly important to your client prospects. Sometimes experience is hard to get and as I said before, takes time. But you can speed the process for example, by taking part time jobs (or full time if you have the opportunity) or by volunteering to work in your chosen field, or working with another who is considered an expert in your chosen field.
Keep in mind, your client will be employing you for your expertise and will want to see evidence of that expertise.
In writing this article for aspiring consultants, my hope is that the four steps I have outlined will help lead you to a very successful and rewarding career as a consultant. Enjoy!
Article Source: http://www.articles-galore.com
Bob Selden has been a since 1987. In 1989 with two partners, he started an HRD & Communications consultancy that over a 12 year period grew into one of the most successful consultancies of its type in Australia. In 1995, The National Learning Institute grew out of this consultancy to concentrate on leadership and management development for corporate clients and today focus’ on providing training and development support to other consultancies. You may contact Bob via www.nationallearning.com.au/
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