Every so often in a client meeting I am asked to quickly summarize progress on an engagement and plans are for the coming week. Any tips to make these presentations go better?

First of all, you shouldn't ever be caught by surprise by requests like these. Your client wants to be on top of his or her business. Effective consulting means understanding your clients, their situation, your project plan, findings to date, and where the engagement is headed.

Here's one way to be sure you are fully prepared for a "spontaneous" project summary. At least every week (or before project team briefings), prepare a summary of your engagement. The specifics will depend on the nature of your client and the project but here are a few items you might include:

• Overall client need and objectives
• Key project assumptions
• Work scope for this period
• Activities for this period
• Key findings to date and significance
• Emerging issues and uncertainties
• Recommended change in project scope and cost
• Requests for staff and information requests

Put this on a single sheet of paper and spend five minutes practicing your "spontaneous" briefing. Even if you never have to deliver it, this will help you sort out and clarify key factors driving you toward a complete and effective solution to your client's needs. Use this as a record of your project status, either for your own documentation or as a report to hand to your client.

Tip: If you can't summarize the key elements of your project on one page, and to your client in just a few minutes, you may need to think more about what are the most important items to convey.

© 2011 Institute of Management Consultants USA

I see other members doing a lot of non- compensated volunteer work for our association. Can this type of effort pay off? How do I get involved?

Volunteering almost always pays off in both the short run as well as the long run. You will be amazed at the doors that will open and the opportunities that will arise from such a small investment of your time. Volunteering can provide a convenient way to develop a new skill or sharpen old ones. It gives you an opportunity to work with other talented folks, make new friends and enhance your professional network with additional valuable colleagues. You will also often experience a strong sense of accomplishment and will frequently receive recognition for your efforts. You will feel more a part of your organization, and fulfill your obligation to your profession, than you ever have. In short, volunteering is one of the best investments any consultant can make.

Getting started often begins by simply asking an organization where help is needed (and where your skills might be best applied). Most professional associations are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers.

Tip: Volunteering often provides you with something more important than a direct business payoff. You will learn, grow, and meet many great folks. Remember, though, to always approach your volunteering unselfishly, and always be as positive, productive, and giving as you are able. If you must have a "business case" for volunteering, consider how clients look at a service provider who doesn't think enough of his or her profession to commit time to supporting it.

© 2011 Institute of Management Consultants USA