Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used
by Peter Block
from Pfeiffer
The second edition of Peter Block's Flawless Consulting gracefully updates what many consider the best resource of its kind. New chapters on implementation, "whole-system" strategies, and ethics are included, but in general it simply fine-tunes Block's proven advice to match the transformations that business and society have undergone since initial publication two decades ago. "The days of long studies and expert-driven answers are passing," the author proclaims in his new preface. "The task of the consultant is increasingly to build the capacity of clients to make their own assessments and answer their own questions." He then subtly modifies his established recommendations accordingly for every step, from the initial client meeting and problem diagnosis through data collection and the execution of solutions. In the section on "Conducting a Group Feedback Meeting," for example, he advises: "Treat the group as a collection of individuals.... Ask each person what he or she wants from the meeting. This will surface differences and force the group to take responsibility for some of the difficulties that may arise." --Howard Rothman
The second edition of the "consultant's bible" is here!
For over fifteen years, consultants--both internal and external--have relied on Peter Block's landmark bestseller, Flawless Consulting, to learn how to deal effectively with clients, peers, and others. Using illustrative examples, case studies, and exercises, the author, one of the most important and well known in his field, offers his legendary warmth and insight throughout this much-awaited second edition. Anyone who must communicate in a professional context--and who doesn't?--will use the lessons taught in this book for years to come!
"Who would have thought the 'consultant's bible' could be improved upon? Count on Peter Block--the consulting profession's very own revolutionary--to push us to confront and struggle with the paradoxes inherent in our work."
--Candace Thompson, organization development consultant, First Chicago NBD--A Bank One Company
"Block has distilled years of experience into a wise, down-to-earth, and eminently practical guide to excellence in consulting. If you are new to the practice, Flawless Consulting will chop years off your learning cycle. And even if you're an old pro, Block's insights will elevate you to new levels of effectiveness. Flawless Consulting is not simply about becoming a better consultant; it is about using consulting as a path toward becoming a better person."
--Barry Oshry, president, Power & Systems, Inc.; author of Seeing Systems and Leading Systems
The Trusted Advisor
by David H. Maister
from Free Press
David Maister, Charles Green, and Robert Galford--consultants on professional-service management and customer-relation issues--believe nobody can become successful as a business guru until they first gain the confidence of their clients. In The Trusted Advisor, the authors effectively build their case through anecdote and illustration, then relay a solid series of relevant suggestions applicable to both would-be consultants and those already active in the field. Among their most potent suggestions is a practical, five-step development process that encourages outsiders to engage clients by focusing attention on the issues and individuals at hand; listening both to what they say and what they leave unsaid; framing the immediate problem from their perspective; envisioning with them how a solution might appear; and committing jointly to the actions and resources that will bring it about. Also particularly useful is the examination of trust-building during four phases of a client-advisor alliance: at the time the relationship is consummated; during the assignment; after the assignment; and when "cross-selling," or establishing affiliations with the customer's associates. Boosting its utility, the book is filled with concise, easily adopted tips like "return phone calls unbelievably fast" and "always tell the truth and not what the client wants to hear." --Howard Rothman
In today's fast-paced networked economy, professionals must work harder than ever to maintain and improve their business skills and knowledge. But technical mastery of one's discipline is not enough, assert world-renowned professional advisors David H. Maister, Charles H. Green, and Robert M. Galford. The key to professional success, they argue, is the ability to earn the trust and confidence of clients. To demonstrate the paramount importance of trust, the authors use anecdotes, experiences, and examples -- successes and mistakes, their own and others' -- to great effect. The result is an immensely readable book that will be welcomed by the inexperienced advisor and the most seasoned expert alike.
In order to survive, today's professionals must earn the trust of their clients--and re-earn it throughout their careers. This is a dynamic must-read for successfully negotiating relationships in today's bold new economy.
The McKinsey Mind: Understanding and Implementing the Problem-Solving Tools and Management Techniques of the World's Top Strategic Consulting Firm
by Ethan M. Rasiel
from McGraw-Hill
The groundbreaking follow-up to the international bestsellerÂÂa hands-on guide to putting McKinsey techniques to work in your organization
McKinsey & Company is the most respected and most secretive consulting firm in the world, and business readers just can't seem to get enough of all things McKinsey. Now, hot on the heels of his acclaimed international bestseller The McKinsey Way, Ethan Rasiel brings readers a powerful new guide to putting McKinsey concepts and skills into actionÂÂThe McKinsey Mind. While the first book used case studies and anecdotes from former and current McKinseyites to describe how "the firm" solves the thorniest business problems of their A-list clients, The McKinsey Mind goes a giant step further. It explains, step-by-step, how to use McKinsey tools, techniques and strategies to solve an array of core business problems and to make any business venture more successful.
Designed to work as a stand-alone guide or together with The McKinsey Way, The McKinsey Mind follows the same critically acclaimed style and format as its predecessor. In this book authors Rasiel and Friga expand upon the lessons found in The McKinsey Way with real-world examples, parables, and easy-to-do exercises designed to get readers up and running.
"McKinsey & Company is the most respected and most secretive consulting firm in the world, and business readers just can't seem to get enough of all things McKinsey. Now, hot on the heels of his acclaimed international bestseller The McKinsey Way, Ethan Rasiel brings readers a powerful new guide to putting McKinsey concepts and skills into actionÂÂThe McKinsey Mind. While the first book used case studies and anecdotes from former and current McKinseyites to describe how ""the firm"" solves the thorniest business problems of their A-list clients, The McKinsey Mind goes a giant step further. It explains, step-by-step, how to use McKinsey tools, techniques and strategies to solve an array of core business problems and to make any business venture more successful. Designed to work as a stand-alone guide or together with The McKinsey Way, The McKinsey Mind follows the same critically acclaimed style and format as its predecessor. In this book authors Rasiel and Friga expand upon the lessons found in The McKinsey Way with real-world examples, parables, and easy-to-do exercises designed to get readers up and running."
Million Dollar Consulting: The Professional's Guide to Growing a Practice
by Alan Weiss
from McGraw-Hill
The acclaimed Million Dollar Consulting gives consultants the tools and advice they need to grow a firm that rakes in at least $1 million per year. Alan Weiss, "the consultant's consultant," shows step-by-step how to raise capital, reel in new clients, set fees, accelerate growth, and more. This updated and expanded edition will appeal to both Weiss's many current fans and a whole new generation of readers looking for the best advice available for anyone who wants to build a million-dollar consulting/speaking career.
Getting Started in Consulting, Second Edition
by Alan Weiss
from Wiley
A new revision of the successful guidebook for novice consultants
Getting Started in Consulting, Second Edition provides practical solutions and proven strategies for launching a consulting business. Readers will learn how low overhead and a high degree of organization can translate into a six-figure income working from a home office. The book also offers key information on how to finance a consulting practice, how to write proposals, how to set up billing and bookkeeping, and more. A new chapter also explains how to get started quickly for those who can't wait to generate cash flow or those who have a cash reserve they are immediately willing to commit.
Alan Weiss (East Greenwich, RI) has consulted with hundreds of organizations around the world, including Mercedes-Benz, Hewlett-Packard, Merck, and the Times Mirror Group. He lectures widely and is the author of 12 books.
A new revision of the successful guidebook for novice consultants
Getting Started in Consulting, Second Edition provides practical solutions and proven strategies for launching a consulting business. Readers will learn how low overhead and a high degree of organization can translate into a six-figure income working from a home office. The book also offers key information on how to finance a consulting practice, how to write proposals, how to set up billing and bookkeeping, and more. A new chapter also explains how to get started quickly for those who can't wait to generate cash flow or those who have a cash reserve they are immediately willing to commit.
Alan Weiss (East Greenwich, RI) has consulted with hundreds of organizations around the world, including Mercedes-Benz, Hewlett-Packard, Merck, and the Times Mirror Group. He lectures widely and is the author of 12 books.
The Boston Consulting Group on Strategy: Classic Concepts and New Perspectives
from Wiley
A collection of the best thinking from one of the most innovative management consulting firms in the world
For more than forty years, The Boston Consulting Group has been shaping strategic thinking in business. The Boston Consulting Group on Strategy offers a broad and up-to-date selection of the firm's best ideas on strategy with fresh ideas, insights, and practical lessons for managers, executives, and entrepreneurs in every industry. Here's a sampling of the provocative thinking you'll find inside:
"You have to be the scientist of your own life and be astonished four times:at what is, what always has been, what once was, and what could be."
"The majority of products in most companies are cash traps . . . .[They] are not only worthless, but a perpetual drain on corporate resources."
"Use more debt than your competition or get out of the business."
"When information flows freely, reputation, more than reciprocity,becomes the basis for trust."
"As a strategic weapon, time is the equivalent of money, productivity,quality, even innovation."
"When brands become business systems, brand management becomes far too important to leave to the marketing department."
"The winning organization of the future will look more like a collection ofjazz ensembles than a symphony orchestra."
"Most of our organizations today derive from a model whose original purpose was to control creativity."
"Rather than being an obstacle, uncertainty is the very engine of transformation in a business, a continuous source of new opportunities."
"IP assets lack clear property lines. Every bit of intellectual property you can own comes with connections to other valuable innovations."
Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Consultants
by Stephen Fishman
from NOLO
Be your own boss -- easily, efficiently and successfully -- with this bestseller!
Whether you're an independent contractor, freelancer, or consultant, it all adds up to the same thing: You need to be more aware of laws and taxes than the average person.
Fortunately, Working for Yourself provides all the information you need to stay on top of it all. An independent contractor himself, Stephen Fishman shows you everything you need to know to:
The 7th edition is completely revised to provide the up-to-date information you need, including the most current tax rates and changes in the law.
Whether you already work for yourself or are thinking about making the move, Working for Yourself will help make sure you do it right.
List of Forms
"Be your own boss -- easily, efficiently and successfully -- with this bestseller! Whether you're an independent contractor, freelancer, or consultant, it all adds up to the same thing: You need to be more aware of laws and taxes than the average person. Fortunately, Working for Yourself provides all the information you need to stay on top of it all. An independent contractor himself, Stephen Fishman shows you everything you need to know to: -meet business start-up requirements -pick a business structure -set up home or outside offices -obtain permits and licenses -price your services or products -comply with strict IRS rules -establish sound business relationships -avoid unfair contracts -draft good agreements -keep good records -get paid in full and on time -and much, much more The 6th edition is completely revised to provide the up-to-date information you need, including the most current tax rates and changes in the law. Whether you already work for yourself or are thinking about making the move, Working for Yourself will help make sure you do it right. List of Forms Asset Log Expense Journal Income Journal Invoice General Independent Contractor Agreement Contract Amendment Nondisclosure Agreement "
Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself
by Daniel H. Pink
from Business Plus
Combining the astute social analysis of Alvin Tofflers The Third Wave and Faith Popcorns The Popcorn Report, this book boldly predicts the death of the conventional job and describes the Brave New World of the self-employed society.Since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, it has been the organizing principle of society: people are what they do. But at the dawning of the new millennium, Americans are waking up to the fact that commitment to a traditional corporate structure does not guarantee personal validation or financial security. In what is one of the fastest growing movements today, people are rejecting the idea of corporate loyalty to explore more creative ways of making a living. This book addresses this movement and is a must-have for the millions investigating free agency.
The Organization Man is history. Taking his place is America's new economic icon: the "free agent"--the job-hopping, tech-savvy, fulfillment-seeking, self-reliant, independent worker. Already 30 million strong, these new "dis-organization" men and women are transforming America in ways both profound and exhilarating. Are you ready for . . . · The Peter-Out Principle: Successor to the famous "Peter Principle," this new rule decrees that when the fun peters out, the talented walk out. · Unschooling: Individual-centered learning like homeschooling and apprenticeships will threaten Ivy League colleges and end high school as we know it. · Individual Public Offerings: The upper echelon of free agents will issue these new "IPOs," or stock . . . in themselves.· E-tirement: When Americans reach age sixty-five, more will enter a new stage of life. Working as full-time, part-time, and anytime free agents, they'll be finding and executing work over the Internet.· Just-in-time Politics: This political version of just-in-time manufacturing will challenge the present two-party system.· The Feminine Century: Women are free agency's early adopters. Many analysts estimate that by the year 2005, half of all businesses will be run by women. In this landmark book, Daniel H. Pink offers the definitive account of this revolution in work. He shows who these free agents are--from the marketing consultant down the street to the home-based "mompreneur" to the footloose technology contractor--and why they've forged a new path. His entertaining and provocative account of the new frontier of work reveals how free agents are shaking up all of our institutions--from politics to education to the family.
Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters: 400 Unconventional Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job
by Jay Conrad Levinson
from Wiley
Ready! Aim! Hired!
"This is an immensely helpful book, with the ancient wisdom of recruiters,?and the up-to-date?insights of two skilled Internet surfers. If you're job-hunting, you'll be grateful to learn the tips and tricks of these two seasoned veterans. I learned a lot myself."
—Richard N. Bolles, author, What Color Is Your Parachute?
"I have been an apprentice, a company president, and a CEO. No other single source provides a more contemporary and embracing job search bible. This book offers literally hundreds of little known insider tips, strategies, out-of-the-box success stories, hands-on exercises, and pearls of wisdom. Many readers will hear the words, 'You're Hired' due to David Perry and Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters."
—Kelly Perdew, Executive Vice President, Trump Ice winner of The Apprentice 2
"Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters is an absolutely 'right on' book for today's job market. It not only has great job search tips but it takes you into the electronic job search system better than anything I've seen written to date."
—William J. Morin, Chairman and CEO, WJM Associates, Inc. former CEO of DBM
Using a typically unconventional Guerrilla approach, authors Levinson and Perry cover all the basics of a winning campaign. This book covers:
- Using the Internet for everything from research and job searches to your own Web site, blogs, and podcasting
- Performing an extreme resume makeover and creating a higher-powered value-based resume
- Harnessing the full power of Google, LinkedIn, and ZoomInfo to uncover opportunities in the "hidden job market" ahead of your competition (or other job hunters)
- Branding yourself and selling your strengths in resumes, letters, e-mail, and interviews
Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters includes real-life war stories from successful job hunters and expert tips and tactics from over 100 prominent headhunters.
Ready! Aim! Hired! ""This is an immensely helpful book, with the ancient wisdom of recruiters,and the up-to-date insights of two skilled Internet surfers. If you're job-hunting, you'll be grateful to learn the tips and tricks of these two seasoned veterans. I learned a lot myself."" Richard N. Bolles, author, What Color Is Your Parachute ""I have been an apprentice, a company president, and a CEO. No other single source provides a more contemporary and embracing job search bible. This book offers literally hundreds of little known insider tips, strategies, out-of-the-box success stories, hands-on exercises, and pearls of wisdom. Many readers will hear the words, 'You're Hired' due to David Perry and Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters."" Kelly Perdew, Executive Vice President, Trump Ice winner of The Apprentice 2 ""Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters is an absolutely 'right on' book for today's job market. It not only has great job search tips but it takes you into the electronic job search system better than anything I've seen written to date."" William J. Morin, Chairman and CEO, WJM Associates, Inc. former CEO of DBM Using a typically unconventional Guerrilla approach, authors Levinson and Perry cover all the basics of a winning campaign. This book covers: Using the Internet for everything from research and job searches to your own Web site, blogs, and podcasting Performing an extreme resume makeover and creating a higher-powered value-based resume Harnessing the full power of Google, LinkedIn, and ZoomInfo to uncover opportunities in the ""hidden job market"" ahead of your competition (or other job hunters) Branding yourself and selling your strengths in resumes, letters, e-mail, and interviews Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters includes real-life war stories from successful job hunters and expert tips and tactics from over 100 prominent headhunters.
Vault Guide to the Case Interview, 7th Edition (Vault Guide to the Case Interview)
by Mark Asher
from Vault, Inc.
This best-selling guide provides the skinny on business frameworks, sample cases, guesstimates, brainteasers, and more! The Guide inclides more than 50 actual case interviews, guesstimates, brainteasers and other consulting interview cases. It also covers important framewoeks inclusing Porter's Five Forces, the capital asset pricing model (CAPM), the BCG Matrix, the four P's, and the four C's.
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