Not everyone is cut out for self-employment. Many people are best served in the safety and security of a traditional job.
Being good at what you do is not enough – running a business as a self-employed professional requires you to have or build a full toolbox of complementary skills.
Here are eight of the most important skills to master for consulting success.
Good SEPs are super knowledgeable about what they do. You should have a deep understanding and expertise in your industry or area, relevant experience, and a genuine passion and interest in improving things.
You’ll be talking to people… a lot. If you’re not good at chatting to potential clients, writing copy, drafting proposals, preparing great reports and working closely with clients, your business won’t fulfil its potential.
The best consultants are confident in being clear and effective verbal and written communicators.
People are hiring you to remove their problems because they don’t have the time, expertise or skills required to do it.
These problems will be complex - otherwise, they’d already be solved. You’ll spend most of your time taking initiative, digging deeper and finding solutions, so having the ability to think critically and creatively is vital.
You will be responsible for every part of your enterprise at the beginning: admin, sales, marketing, operation, comms and delivery.
You’ll be managing multiple tasks, clients and projects at a time, so you'll struggle if you’re not a great juggler and time management isn’t your forte.
Starting a business isn’t for the faint-hearted. It’s challenging work, and finding the motivation to get up every day and keep going, especially in the early days, isn’t always easy.
No boss is keeping you on task, so consultants must have the grit to stick to their goals and stay focused.
Good consultants are incredibly flexible and adaptive. Your business, clients and projects will change all the time, and there will always be a new spanner in the works for you to handle.
If you’re not good at rolling with the punches and pivoting quickly, business might not be for you.
Building and maintaining relationships with clients and other contacts are the lifeblood of your business.
Great consultants are confident about putting themselves out there online and at events, following up on opportunities and new contacts, and connecting people with mutual interests.
Starting a business involves taking a lot of risks - there’s no way of knowing whether your new idea will work, your clients will come through, or whether you’ll make enough money to cover your mortgage in the first few months.
If you’re not comfortable leaping, don’t do it!