The Moves You Need to Make to Deliver Success: A Roadmap for 2021

2021 is going to be better than 2020, I mean, it has to be, right?

There is a light at the end of the tunnel for the world, and for consulting firms that light is potentially brighter than for some other industries. The Hinge Research Institute recently reported that clients value consulting 33% more than in the past, so that provides a strong foundation firms can build on. But that doesn’t make success a guarantee. Firms have to make the right moves to deliver that success.

20% Less Loyalty 

You probably don’t want to hear that you need to make a significant number of changes on top of all of the disruption of the past year, but you have to seize the opportunity to deliver a successful recovery, it’s not going to happen automatically.  That same report from the Hinge Research Institute indicated that firms were 20% less loyal to their current consulting firms, so you need to demonstrate that you are ready to embrace the new, and still evolving, world that firms and their clients find themselves in.  Otherwise, those customers will go elsewhere, making it even harder for you to recover and grow.

We’ve identified ten critical moves that consulting firms have to make in 2021 to ensure they can achieve a successful recovery from the pandemic and its impact, and that they can also deliver that success to their clients.  Those moves span everything from project delivery to profitability, from talent to technology.  They impact how firms operate, think and interact, and can help propel firms forward into a sustainable, innovation driven future. We covered all of these moves in more detail in our recent webinar, but below is a bit more on move #1.

#1 Develop a Communications Plan 

The pandemic has affected all social interactions.  We have less unscheduled contact than ever before.  No longer are we giving quick benchmark reports at the water cooler after commenting on our latest Netflix binge.  Instead we need to develop and deliver clear, direct communications on set schedule.

The good news is that this is not difficult.  This and all of our other critical moves are things you can do with the right people, the right attitude and the right skills.  They are also adjustments that will deliver early successes.  While some may take longer to deliver their full potential, managers, staff and customers will see immediate improvements that will provide the motivation to maintain progress.

Combined (and you should view the moves as a collection, not as a list you can select a few items from), these moves will create a consulting firm that is ready not only to emerge from the shadow of the pandemic and its economic downturn, but also one that is ready to embrace emerging trends like digital transformation.  It will create a firm that can partner with clients to deliver mutual success and strengthen relationships that can grow together for years to come.

So, what are these other nine critical moves? Please join me for 10 Critical Consulting Actions for 2021. Where I will review each of the moves, how they can help and why they are necessary. View Now >