Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Register for email alerts from important strategy consulting firm sources

In order to make sure that you don't miss special announcements and headlines that will affect your business, register with news feeds to get regular updates and instant reports. You can usually specify the types of alerts you need from news services that provide these email alerts. Find separate sources for software and IT developments, HR reporting software and financial reporting tools to make sure you get all the news you need.

I recommend: Watch for trend news and features about where the strategic planning consultant fits with today’s business in Consulting Magazine. Strategic Planning 360 is a storehouse of relevant and important trends pieces about strategic planning consulting firms that you should add to your weekly reading time.

Seek out in-depth strategy consulting information

Take time to read in-depth reports and magazines that cover the industry further than the headlines. Watch for articles about the company for whom you are consulting while you keep up with trends in executive coaching and budget analysis. Subscribe to print magazines for strategic planning consulting news and trends and read them online.

I recommend: Sign up for RSS feeds and keep in touch with the industry experts and the forecasts they have for the strategic planning consultant through the publications of AT Kearney. CIO provides executives and consultants with news and views that should be taken into consideration when developing new strategic plans for growth.

Participate in trade groups for strategic planning consulting services

By joining other professionals in business strategy consulting, you can build relationships that can help you stay ahead of the news and find out about new global opportunities that become available. Participate in trade shows where executives often go to find a consulting firm.

I recommend: The Association for Strategic Planning gives members a number of avenues to keep in touch with the latest news, industry analysis and each other at networking events and conferences. The Strategic Management Society focuses on keeping members abreast of the latest innovations in the industry.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While gathering your daily research, include general news that will give you a well-rounded view of the current political and economic climate in which to frame your strategic consulting services.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Establish business goals with the help of a strategic planning consulting firm

The first step in strategic planning is to establish your vision for business success and develop goals consistent with making that vision a reality. Whether you need assistance in creating a strategic plan for a new business or simply need to modify existing practices to maximize success, strategic planning consulting companies can help you achieve your goals.

I recommend: Organized Change Consultancy helps their clients develop goals that are not only attainable, but that are action and detail-oriented and carry a specific, realistic time frame for accomplishment. The Grove offers strategic planning services to businesses that seek direction or want to shift their company vision. Services offered by The Grove include strategic planning retreats, construction of visual tools to aid in strategic planning and intensive strategy sessions, all geared toward development of their clients' business vision.

Take advantage of strategic planning services to ensure future success

Once you have a clear vision and goals, you must devise a realization strategy. Those who specialize in strategic planning consulting can help you develop and implement policies, procedures and practices to accomplish your organizational goals.

I recommend: Contact MyStrategicPlan to receive a customized proposal or to set up a strategic planning meeting. Review your vision with one of their strategic planning consultants and rely on his expertise to create and facilitate a successful program. McHugh & Company is a strategic planning consulting firm that specializes in developing action plans for mid-sized businesses. They can provide you with a personalized strategic plan tailored to meet the needs of your organization.

Rely on strategy consulting to stay competitive in your industry

Strategic planning consulting firms help business owners understand how to best allocate their resources to ensure financial success. Through identifying your business' political, economic, social and technical environment, referred to in the industry as PEST analysis, a business strategy consultant can shape your organizational structure and culture to maximize employee performance and your bottom line, giving you a competitive edge.

I recommend: The Scott Consulting Firm, LLC prides itself on a high level of success with conducting accurate PEST analysis for their clients during the strategic planning process. Like other strategy consulting firms, they also routinely perform an analysis to determine a business' strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, referred to as a SWOT analysis. Contact them for a free consultation. Herb Rubenstein Consulting has a proven history of analyzing market conditions, competitor strategies and other factors to lead their clients to success.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before seeking strategic consulting planning services, make sure you can clearly communicate the problem you are experiencing, share your expectations and objectively receive a plan of action from a strategy consulting expert.

Guide to Strategic Planning Consulting Education and Training

Strengthen your skills and better aid clients through training for strategic planning consulting firms

By Lea Terry, Freelance Journalist / Copywriter

1. Certification in consulting
2. In-person seminars and workshops
3. Online training in the strategic planning process
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Prepare for a strategy consulting career by receiving a degree in strategic planning

Many universities offer bachelors and masters degrees in strategic planning; these programs prepare you with companies in a wide range of industries and sizes.

I recommend: Read an overview of strategic planning degrees at DiplomaGuide.com; see an example of a specific strategy consulting program at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business website.

Seek certification in consulting before going into business strategy consulting

If you're just getting started in strategic planning consulting services, you'll probably want to seek certification. Not only will you get the basic education you need, clients may be more likely to hire you.

I recommend: Villanova University offers project management certification that includes training in strategic planning. The International Guild of Professional Consultants and Coaches offers seminars and certification courses for consultants.

Sign up for seminars and workshops for strategy consulting firms and independent consultants

With seminars and workshops, you can master both the basic, general skills involved in strategic planning, and more advanced or specific topics. You also benefit from in-person guidance, and many of these programs are designed specifically for people who work with small businesses.

I recommend: The Center for Simplified Strategic Planning offers two-day seminars for people who work with or for small- to medium-sized companies. The American Management Association offers a three-day strategic planning seminar that counts toward continuing education credits.

Refresh your skills through online and computer-based training in strategic business consulting

If you want to strengthen your skills while still helping clients, consider computer-based training, available as Web-based courses and on CD-ROM. You can complete your coursework on your own schedule, while still having time to meet with clients.

I recommend: Flexstudy.com offers online strategic planning classes that count for continuing education credits, or browse for computer-based classes at Training-Classes.com.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Veteran strategic planning consultants should focus on education and training programs that offer continuing education credits. In addition to learning new skills, they can also enhance their professional reputation and gain credibility.
• •  If you work for a strategy consulting firm, ask if the company will pay for all or some of the cost of additional training.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Mission statement

A mission statement is one key aspect that strategic planning consultants recommend in organization design. It consists of a written statement composed by executive management and includes a statement about the organization's purpose and overall goal. It is used to provide a sense of direction and helps management make decisions.

I recommend: Entrepreneur Media provides a good discussion on this topic.

Vision statement

A vision statement is a statement that is developed by executive management and is also recommended by strategic planning consultants. It delineates what an organization or company wants to be. It is more future-oriented than a mission statement.

I recommend: Samples-help.org has a clear definition and comparison with mission statement that you might find helpful.

Balanced scorecard

Balanced scorecard (BSC) is a tool that is used by management in an organization to measure performance and helps determine whether smaller, more discreet operational activities are aligned with larger scale objectives. Strategic planning consultants help organizations determine the most relevant balanced scorecard.

I recommend: Balanced Scorecard Institute has almost everything you could ask for on this topic.

ISO 9000

ISO 9000 is a set of standards for quality management systems. They are maintained by the International Organization for Standardization. Key elements are defined key processes, a monitoring system for the processes, record-keeping, checking outputs for defects, and facilitation of continual improvement. Strategic planning consultants are familiar with ISO 9000 and some provide services in this area.

I recommend: Go to PCMAG for more information on ISO 9000.

Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a strategy that is used by management to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing defects or errors. Some strategic planning consultants provide assistance with Six Sigma initiatives in an organization.

I recommend: Six Sigma Tutorial has a more complete discussion.

Total quality management, (TQM)

Total quality management (TQM) is a business strategy that is implemented and monitored by management in a company and is concerned with driving a higher awareness of quality in all organizational processes. Strategic planning consultants are familiar with TQM and some can assist businesses in embedding this approach in the organization.

I recommend: See TechTarget for a succinct definition.