7 Signs You’re a Consulting BOSS in the Making
So, you’re thinking about consulting. Maybe you’ve been helping people untangle sticky situations for years, and now you’re wondering if you can package that skill into a business. You think you can do it, but you’re not sure where to start, and to be honest, there’s a little imposter syndrome creeping in. You know you’re great with your client, but you’re wondering if you can hold your own in a board room, or with people who are making triple your salary or more in half the time. You don’t want to shy away from the spotlight, but you’re not typically the loudest voice in the room. So here’s what I would tell you if I wasn’t worried about hurting your feelings: Check your resume, Sis.
Now I’m assuming you’re keeping it updated, but even if you’re not, I can guarantee that if you’re thinking about taking the leap to go outside of your office it’s because you’ve already been having success and helping your clients. So let’ stop pretending that you’re not that girl. But just in case you need a reminder, here are seven signs you might already be more of a consulting expert than you realize:
You’re Confident in Your Knowledge and Experience
Confidence doesn’t mean you know everything. (Newsflash: no one does. Not even the guy on LinkedIn with 47 “thought leader” hashtags.) It means you trust the knowledge you’ve built and can stand behind it when helping others. A good example of this is the type of clients that you help or the input you give in staffing and consultation with other therapists. When you speak, not only do people listen, they are changed.
You Have Strong Problem-Solving Skills
If you’re the person friends, coworkers, or clients come to when they’re stuck, guess what? That’s consulting in disguise. The ability to diagnose the real issue and guide people toward solutions is consulting gold.
You’ve Got a Proven Track Record
Consulting isn’t theory. It’s receipts. If you can point to moments in your career where you’ve helped a team hit a goal, fix a broken system, or just make life easier, that’s evidence you’ve got what clients will happily pay for. And for the record, I don’t care if you haven’t done this for pay in the past, if you’ve done this with your church, your volunteer post or your community, you’ve done it.
You’ve Collected Some Professional Credentials
Do you need certifications to get started? Not always. But in certain industries, credentials give you credibility while you’re building your brand. Whether it’s a license, a specialty certification, or documented training, credentials help open doors and build trust. You’re already taking the CEUs to keep your license active, choose ones that will lead you in the direction of what your new consulting clients will want the most.
You’re a Strong Communicator
Consultants live and die by their communication skills. If you can do it, you need to be able to say that you can do it. Can you explain a big idea without putting your audience to sleep? Can you listen without interrupting (yes, even when you already know the solution)? Those are the skills that make clients say, “She gets it.”
You’re Flexible
Consulting is not for the rigid. Projects shift. Deadlines move. A perfectly planned strategy can get derailed by one leadership change. Flexibility doesn’t mean chaos, it means keeping the goal in focus even when the path zigzags. A project often starts as an idea with very loose margins. Over time, one of your roles will be to clearly define objectives but remain flexible about how you reach the goal.
You’ve Got a Network
Sometimes, it’s not about what you know, it’s about who you can call. A robust network of professionals and peers gives you access to solutions you can’t create alone. Clients love when you bring not just your brain, but also your rolodex (…or, let’s be real, your LinkedIn).
So, Are You Ready?
Here’s the thing: no one is born a consultant. But if you’re nodding along to this list, chances are you’re already more equipped than you give yourself credit for. The next step isn’t about “getting ready”—it’s about stepping forward, refining your skills, and starting where you are.
Schedule a strategy session and let’s get you launched this quarter.