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To become a Strategic Planning Consultant you must first have a very analytical mind. If you’re the type of person who is always looking for more efficient and productive ways to make things better, this type of work maybe for you. The strategic planner often provides valuable insight to a company either by being hired on as a corporate analyst or that of a hired contractor. In either scenario, the workplace is very diverse and the strategic planner has the opportunity to move about the spaces and see a great many functions of the business operations. Below are a 5 easy steps towards becoming a strategic planning consultant.
Get Your Advanced Education
Obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree is a must. Good degrees to focus on are business, finance, or public administration. A good strategic planner has a solid knowledge of many aspects of the business. Taking courses related to human resources, marketing, and statistics will help broaden that knowledge. Once the Bachelor’s Degree has been obtained, working towards a Masters in Business Administration is preferred and will be most useful.
Resource: Top 10 Best Online Masters in Business Administration Degree Programs
Study Different Planning Models
No one strategic planning model works for the wide range of businesses that are out there. By having a diverse and varied plan of attack, you become more marketable not only to multiple companies but within the company itself. The perspective you take even within different departments of the same business will allow for a more diverse operation. Of course, familiarizing yourself with the basic models will be effective but don’t be afraid to think outside the box.
Get Experience
This is probably the hardest part of the process. You can get all the knowledge in the world but it doesn’t mean much if you have no outlet to apply it. With the economy in the tough situation it is, even a college education doesn’t guarantee employment anymore. A good strategic planning consultant is a creative one. Apply for internships with companies that you can see value in working with. Start small and offer services to businesses that may not be considering strategic planning (such as local, small businesses or non-profits). If all else fails, create business for yourself by using your strategic planning skills on yourself.
Stay Current
Strategic planning is an ever evolving field. Staying current on trends and newly discovered processes is far from isolated to the strategic planning field. While new practices and procedures are frequently being tested and reviewed, the business you are serving is also evolving. Stay current in your business’ industry. This will keep you relevant and you will be able to apply proper procedures that are designed specifically for the business you’re serving.
Get Certified to Be a Strategic Planning Consultant
Beyond your college education, getting certified provides confidence that you’re properly trained and thoroughly understand the concepts of which you are presenting. The Association for Strategic Planning has three tiers of certification that will give you that knowledge. With the certification also comes the entitlement. Aside from these certifications, obtaining other related certifications will help you even more in showing clients that you are an expert in particular fields that may relate to their business.
The role of the strategic planning consultant is a diverse one. For the business savvy person who is also creative and likes to help businesses become more effective, consultation may be a great opportunity. Like anything else, there are processes involved into becoming one. By taking the steps shown above, you will on the right track towards becoming a good strategic planning const.
