What missives should be at the top of your reading list? Start with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Two reasons: one, it is a heck of a book. And two, when you quote Mark Twain, people think you are witty and a little irreverent. Consultants need not – and should not – read consulting books exclusively. Any well-written book, or article, any blog post, webinar or podcast, that can plant a seed of an idea, grab your attention, and make you think and then rethink your role and how to improve and develop within it is worth your time.

Some – and by “some,” I mean “a lot” – of clients believe that when junior consultants are working on their projects, they are not getting the full value for which they are paying. They think there is a sort of bait-and-switch going on, and that junior consultants cannot possibly bring the same professionalism and results that a senior consultant can. To this I say, “Nonsense!” You actually want junior consultants working on your project. Here’s why.

You know how the Internet can make an expert of nearly anyone? A shaky economy can make a consultant out of nearly any retiree or out-of-work businessperson. Virtually anyone can call themselves a consultant and hang out a shingle. They might even land a few jobs – but hopefully not on your project! Let’s take a look at three quick and effective ways to hire a bad consultant so you can run in the opposite direction.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Never bring a knife to a gunfight?” That’s a little like how it feels to show up to a project management situation with Excel instead of Project or Word instead of Primavera. Many times, clients focus on the software or the technology: we want SharePoint, or we want Basecamp. What they bypass is the project itself; what will work best for our needs? What will facilitate this project and allow us to accomplish our goals? Sometimes a knife works just fine.

In large projects, a software program like Microsoft Project is a necessity. Even for smaller projects, SharePoint can be a lifesaver because it allows you to share documents, keep them in a central, accessible location, and coordinate dispersed team members. But there are other tools that are essential, and here’s where the knife/gunfight analogy comes in. These tools include:

Chances are pretty good that one time or another you’ve heard the expression, “perception is reality”. Perhaps you heard it while you were watching television or playing a sport. What about the business world?

The truth is that many people in business make their decisions and strategic choices based on perception of value as opposed to utility – time, place, form etc. And while utility is important, it is this perceived value that makes a customer happy, orchestrates a seamless transaction or ensures a successful merger. The truth is, intrinsic value makes people feel good, and the better you are at providing it, the more successful you will be.