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10 Positive Facts Your Consulting Firm Should Obsess Over During This Crisis

There are so many voices fixated on the disaster unfolding around us, that you could easily be swept into a torrent of anxiety, fear and panic.

In truth, there is real reason for concern and you absolutely should heed the direction of medical leaders. At the same time, you and your consulting firm will benefit from a healthy dose of positive perspective.

If you ferociously cling to positive thought patterns while chaos is swirling around you, you and your consulting firm can maintain a clear head and promote forward progress.

Fortunately, there are many realistic, reliable reasons for you to feel upbeat.

Eight thought-starters are listed below, and I’ve left two spots open for you to fill in—one more than usual, because I know the entire consulting community will benefit from your inspiring thoughts.

10 Positive Facts Your Consulting Firm Should Obsess Over During This Crisis

1. You Still Have a Great Job

Experts estimate that millions of people will lose their jobs over the next few weeks. You may already be closely affected by layoffs.

You, however, have retained your job leading a consulting firm.

While it’s possible your paid engagements have taken a hit, you can continue to work. You can create value for clients. And, as long as you keep your firm’s lights on, you will eventually be rewarded for the constructive energy you contribute.

2. Companies and People Are in Dire Need, and You’re in the Helping Business

Your consulting firm’s entire reason for being is to assist others; to help your clients solve problems or achieve their aspirations.

Although your clients’ problems and aspirations may very well have shifted over the past few weeks, you know for absolute certain that there are issues to be resolved and dreams to realize. Better yet, your custom-built talent is guiding clients from where they are to where they want to be. 

3. Your Critical Supplies are 100% In-Stock

The components you work with are smarts, skill sets and experience. Stores are closed, components from China are in short supply and global shipments are wonky. No big deal for your consulting firm!

You and your consulting team still have all the brain power and knowledge you had two weeks ago.

Reason and critical thinking seem to have gone missing in many companies. You, on the other hand, are chock full of those capabilities.

4. You Can Manufacture Your Product Anywhere

Advice, coordination, direction, recommendations, interviews, facilitation. All of these consulting processes and deliverables can be developed and conducted virtually.

Thanks to teleconferencing platforms, virtual whiteboards and the good ol’ telephone, you’re able to create enormous value from across town, across the country, or across the globe.

5. Your Business is Easily Transitioned to Home

Similarly, your consulting team can easily operate from home offices.

Consultants, more than most, are used to producing value away from the corporate office. We work at client sites, hotel rooms, airports, bars (oops, that was supposed to be a secret). Home is just another place. No big deal.

6. It’s Suddenly a Great Time to Staff Up

If you’ve been looking to add talented personnel to your consulting team, you’re likely to find a surge in talent available over the next few months. Attracting outstanding colleagues has been extraordinarily difficult for a couple of years. Difficult and expensive.

The abrupt shift in the economy will result in plenty of talent for you to choose from without the significant premiums great candidates have demanded recently.

Plus, by staffing up, you’ll be hastening the economic recovery, which is good for everyone.

7. You Have Time to Do Big Work

If your client workload has softened, you’re gifted with the time you’ve always wished you had to tackle big, firm-growth projects.

Culture change, organization design, process development and systemization, thought leadership. Show those projects that have been begging for your time and attention a little love now.

8. You Are (I Hope) Healthy and Safe

You’re probably at home, socially distanced and scrolling down this article with freshly scrubbed hands. Your commitment to safeguarding yourself and your community is good news in itself. I, for one, am thankful you’re healthy and that you’re caring for those you love.

9 & 10. Your Reasons to Feel Positive

Your positive thoughts and approach help you stay centered and grounded. They’ll help other consultants in this community too. Please share your uplifting perspective.


45 Comments
  1. Terry Pappy
    March 25, 2020 at 6:59 am Reply

    Great article, David, thank you once again for helping us keep our thoughts on the good. Every point you noted here speaks to the reasons we are consultants and do our work the way we want to do it. My favorite is #2 and many are not addressing this dire need by looking forward enough. Understandable, given that we are hyper focused on what is going on right now, day to day, with heightened uncertainty. I’m working on helping my clients and audience prepare for re-entry and ramping back up and looking at how they can serve THEIR clients/customers in a more powerful way as we all re-adjust to norms.

    • David A. Fields
      March 25, 2020 at 8:12 am Reply

      You’re combining a forward-looking perspective with a positive outlook. That’s a powerful force, Terry, and your clients are fortunate to have you on their team.

      Plus, you shared your approach with me and other readers. Double Huzzahs for you, Terry!

  2. John Ennis
    March 25, 2020 at 7:46 am Reply

    How about this one: Thanks to LinkedIn you can still network with new prospects without having to travel to conferences.

    • David A. Fields
      March 25, 2020 at 8:14 am Reply

      That’s a great one, John. You’re absolutely right that we can all be particularly happy that we’ve already been developing our digital networking skills.

      Thank you for the terrific addition to the list.

  3. Tony Rodriguez
    March 25, 2020 at 8:51 am Reply

    Thanks David for your thoughtful suggestions. Very helpful. Here we continue to provide thinking support to our clients and others. We published a “How To” about supply chain yesterday. Anyone is welcome to share with their clients. We would be happy to chat with anyone for additional support.

    • David A. Fields
      March 25, 2020 at 9:20 am Reply

      Good for you for being a thought partner for your clients and others, Tony. Part of creating more positivity in the world is just letting other folks know you’re there for them.

      I appreciate you adding your voice to the conversation.

  4. Don McDermott
    March 25, 2020 at 9:00 am Reply

    David,
    Thanks for these positive thoughts and helping to stay focused. This “situation” has forced me to think in different and better ways to say in front of clients and create better ways to market for new clients. As I said to my wife a couple days go, show me the sunshine I don’t have time to see the clouds.

    • David A. Fields
      March 25, 2020 at 9:21 am Reply

      Let’s hear it for your wife, Don! Indeed, let’s blast a bit of sunshine to everyone we encounter during these dreary days. Nice work also in rethinking your marketing approach. I’m sure that will pay off.

      I’m glad you shared your wisdom (and your wife’s), Don.

  5. John Pepperdine
    March 25, 2020 at 9:37 am Reply

    Great perspective, as always David. You raised some very real and practical positives that even in gloomiest prediction is hard to dispute. For #9, I’d say building more substantial and significant connections with clients, partners, and everyone is certainly a positive change. Rather than a treadmill, we’re not forced to stop and take stock. For #10, we’re all in this together and we all share the same fears and hopes – which maybe overlaps a bit with #9.

    • David A. Fields
      March 25, 2020 at 10:48 am Reply

      You’re exactly right, John, that in terms of relationship building, we’re all being forced to “slow down and smell the roses” (or drink the hot chocolate, in my case). Being shocked into a higher level of awareness is a good thing.

      The whole aspect of community and being in the situation together is also a positive for everyone–even those who aren’t particularly social.

      Two excellent, positive perspectives, John, and I’m happy that you shared them.

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