Have you considered the CMC (Certified Management Consultant) certification?  Have you already achieved it? 

To many members, the process for achieving the CMC is a mystery.  Certification as a management consultant is a way for clients to know whether a management consultant has a certified level of proficiency.  But what does it take to become certified?

I joined IMC Pacific Northwest Chapter in November 2010, and now that I have been a member for a little over a year, I am interested in learning more about certification as a CMC.  I recently talked with one of our longtime board members, Margaret Dorchester, who is a CMC, about the process.  In the next few months, I'll be learning about certification, about the required tasks and educational objectives.

If you are a new member, or if you have been considering CMC certification, you may wish to know more about the process too!  I'll be posting updates about what I learn, so you can continue to decide if you would like to pursue certification yourself.  And we may have a chance to hear from those who have completed the certification process about their successes as well.

Here's to a productive 2012!

Did you know?  The most powerful way to attract and make consulting sales is through building trust with the client, not by telling the client how smart you are or what the solution is to their problem. 

Four principles of trust-based selling to develop the trust relationship with your client are:
1.  Focus on the client's best interest even during the sales process
2.  Don't sacrifice a long-term relationship for short-term wins
3.  Put the collaborative aspect first over "selling the client"
4.  Be as transparent as possible

Information on trust-based selling and many other essential aspects of consulting practice are readily accessible through your IMC membership.  The above information was taken from "Create Trust, Gain a Client" in the Knowledge Library of the IMC USA website (Professional Learning -> Knowledge Library). 

Thinking of renewing your IMC membership for 2012?  Now is the time!  Among your membership benefits you can access
- Consultapalooza: bimonthly interviews with thought leaders in consulting
- Daily Tips:  short daily tips on improving your consulting practice
- Knowledge Libraries:  articles on consulting topics
- Affiliate and Alliance discounts: reduced rates on insurance and tools for your practice

Don't wait! Join the 30+ members who have renewed in our Pacific Northwest Chapter for 2012!

Theresa Barker, Ph.D.
Membership Chair
IMC Pacific Northwest Chapter

Use your IMC membership to build more business!  You can team up with other member consultants on bidding projects, attach your corporate brochures or information, or sell your book -- all through the IMC-USA website -- for free as a member! 

A wealth of opportunities to leverage your membership benefits is available here:

http://www.imcusa.org/?page=USETHESITE&hhSearchTerms=how+and+to+and+use+and+this+and+site

or click on Member Resources --> How to Use This Site (from the left side of the home page).

Just a sampling of the suggestions for leveraging your IMC membership:

• Subscribe to notifications for consulting opportunities (click http://www.imcusa.org/networking/subscribe.asp)
• Sign up for Consultapalooza (click http://www.imcusa.org/?page=CONSULTAPALOOZA)
• Post news about their practice or chapter (our site has probably 100 times the traffic of any member’s site, thus is more visible to search engines)
• Post opportunities for teaming (http://www.imcusa.org/networking/submit.asp)

Let us know if you have questions!

Theresa Barker, Ph.D.
IMC Pacific Northwest Membership Chair
theresa@BARKConsults.com

After 4 years of committees, board, and Presidency, he's gone to the Roof...

Fiddler on the Roof, that is, playing on Bainbridge Island Dec 4 - 20, 2009 -- if anyone is looking for a fun weekend activity.

Mazel Tov to the 2010 board/committees/volunteers, and everyone for the holidays!