habits of high-impact business consultants leticia landa - deputy director - la cocina
TRANSCRIPT
Habits of High-Impact Business Consultants
Leticia Landa - Deputy Director - La Cocina
La Cocina enables low income entrepreneurs to gain financial security and establish viable food-oriented businesses
MISSIONTo cultivate low income food entrepreneurs as they formalize and grow their businesses by providing affordable commercial kitchen space, industry-specific technical assistance and access to market opportunities.
VISIONThat entrepreneurs gain financial security by doing what they love to do, creating an innovative, vibrant and inclusive economic landscape.
What does it take?
Source: OED
empathyempəTHē
nounThe ability to understand and share the feelings of another
Early 20th century: from Greek empatheia (from em- ‘in’ + pathos ‘feeling’) translating German Einfühlung
More practically speaking
COMMITTEDCOMMUNICATIVE
CAPABLE/COMPETENT/CURRENTCONFIDENT
Source: Marc Shore DocStoc Friday Feb 24, 2012
Be Committed
GAIN TRUST
Make sure your client knows you have their best interest in mind and are committed to their success. Show them that you care for the right reasons.
CLIENT COMES FIRST
Remember who the star is (hint, it’s not you.) The success of this project rests on the business and the entrepreneur, you need to be committed to making sure they will succeed.
Be CommunicativeLISTEN
The first step to effective communication is always to absorb as much information as possible.
SIMPLIFY
What seems easy to you may not be easy for them. Show don’t tell. Focus on visual explanations and real-world examples.
EXPLAIN & PROVIDE MORE THAN ONE OPTION
What seems easy to you may not be easy for them. Be patient. and if one line of reasoning doesn’t work, try a different one. Show examples.
Be Capable/Competent/CurrentKNOW YOUR SHIT
The entrepreneur probably knows more than you do. They do this every day. So be prepared. Research. Ask questions. Find real examples.
KNOW WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW
Don’t make things up. If you don’t know, say so and then go find out. Follow up.
THINGS CHANGE
That research you did on that permit for that business last year probably doesn’t exist any more. Don’t assume.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
If you are committed to the success of the business, have done your research and can communicate all of these things effectively, chances are, you’re a good consultant. Own it.
BUT NOT TOO CONFIDENT
You can always get better.
Be Confident
Case Study – El Huarache Loco
