Why Hire a Certified Management Consultant (CMC®)
In the consulting profession, there are no regulatory or legal barriers to entry as there are for CPAs, doctors, and lawyers. Most who say they are consultants have "hung out their shingle" without any experience in the profession. This can be compared to someone who has raised children for 25 years declaring "I think I will be a pediatrician."
Being a competent consultant requires more than just subject matter expertise. There are specific consulting skills such as how to manage a project, how to implement change, and what are the appropriate tools to ensure that you get the results you want and deserve. These are the skills that a professional consultant brings to the table.
So how do you, the client, know you are getting someone who knows what they are doing?
The CMC® designation is the Gold Standard that executives should take into account when selecting a management consultant. Recognized in 46 nations across the globe including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, China, and many others, CMCs are recognized as experts in their profession; the Mark represents their achieving highest standards of excellence and ethical practices as a professional consultant.
The earning of the CMC® by a management consultant is no trivial matter; it can be likened to an attorney passing the Bar examination, an accountant receiving a CPA, or an engineer obtaining their PE license. A candidate must submit to the most rigorous vetting process in the profession that includes receiving satisfaction surveys from clients, taking in-depth examinations covering consulting competencies and ethics, and sitting for a panel interview by fellow CMCs.
Therefore, when you hire a CMC® you can be confident that the consultant who has earned the CMC® designation has a history of excellent performance in delivering results to clients; has met world-class standards of competence, ethics, and client satisfaction; and has maintained this level of professionalism through education and periodic certification renewal. Less than 1% of all consultants worldwide have achieved this level of excellence.
For more information on the Institute of Management Consultants USA or the CMC®, visit IMC USA's website at http://www.imcusa.org.
Adapted with permission from the Institute of Management Consultants USA.
