BM562 Consultancy in Practice: Evaluating Skills and Career Readiness

This report reflects on the skills developed and enhanced during a consultancy project with Regent Tutorial College, focusing on branding strategy and PR campaign development. It identifies improvements in communication, creative thinking, analytical, and research skills. The report discusses the knowledge gained regarding project management, client interaction, and the importance of teamwork. It also highlights the increased confidence level achieved through overcoming introversion and presenting ideas effectively. Furthermore, the report outlines how these skills can be applied in future career endeavors, emphasizing the importance of interpersonal skills. Finally, it identifies skill gaps in communication, time management, and decision-making, along with an action plan for improvement, emphasizing the significance of these skills for a successful business career.

CONSULTING IN
PRACTISE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
TASK - 1..........................................................................................................................................3
Skills developed and enhanced as a result of the project.............................................................3
What do you know now that you didn’t know at the start of the process?..................................4
To what extent has your level of confidence improved?.............................................................4
How could you use your learning in your future career?............................................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
Identification of the skills gaps and its further improvement for successful business career......5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
The consultancy can be described as an advice given by an expert with respect to a
specific subject for which the expert adviser is paid in order to provide the same to its clients.
The present report includes identification of different skills which were developed during
working with teams in order to provide the Regent Tutorial College in developing a branding
strategy and PR campaign.
MAIN BODY
TASK - 1
Skills developed and enhanced as a result of the project
As a part of the team that helped the Regent Tutorial College in developing a branding
strategy and launching a Public relations campaign, it helped me in learning and development of
my personal skill set. Working with the team that was developing a branding strategy and a
Public relation campaign was a learning experience for me. This helped me in understanding the
value of communication in various organizational processes and determining how effective
communication can be used as an asset in influencing the minds of the audience and attract them
towards the organization (Warner, 2020). Even though, I tried my best in order to enhance my
communication skills while developing the strategies for the Regent Tutorial College but I still
lag behind as compared to my team who were quiet efficient in communicating with the
audience. The development of new content for the Public relations campaign in order to promote
and increase the engagement of the customers towards the brand, we used to think creatively as
how we can implement a strategy which can help the college in increasing the number of
admissions within the college. For the same, we developed a number of strategies in order to
promote the college among the audience that helped me in boosting my creative thinking skills.
Also, I conducted a SWOT and PESTLE analysis in order to determine the external factors
which affects reopening of the Regent Tutorial College. The process of conducting the SWOT

analysis and PESTLE analysis helped me in development of my analytical and researching skills.
These skills will further help me in determining the existing trends within the market which
could help me in understanding them and implementing them in order to bring effectiveness
within the Public Relation campaign and branding strategy.
What do you know now that you didn’t know at the start of the process?
During this project, I have learned a lot of things on my own and grabbed certain values
and knowledge from my colleagues. I have determined that earlier my knowledge level was quite
poor and I was not confident about carrying this project too. However, I decided to join the
consultancy team and decided to carry out this project. with the help of the project, I have
learned to interact with different types of people within the team as well as the with the clients. I
have learned the importance of communication and coordination in successfully carrying out the
project (Manevska, and et.al 2018). While carrying out the project, I understood the whole
process of carrying out a project that is firstly problem of the client is identified, then a meeting
is conducted with them in order to understand the issues faced by the client provide them with
possible solutions, the budget of the client is also considered while providing them with a
solution, and then the client selects the one option that best suits their issue. So, it can be said
that I learned new things from my colleagues, gain knowledge and learned the whole process of
providing the consultancy advises to the clients and lastly, understood the value of
communication within the teams as well as while coordinating with the client. The added skills
also helped me in boosting my level of confidence.
To what extent has your level of confidence improved?
My confidence has improved to a great extent. Earlier, my nature was kind of introvert
but now I have developed certain skills within myself which has helped me in developing and
boosting my confidence level. Since, earlier I was an introvert I do not use to communicate with
much people (Koprowska, 2020). I liked being comfortable in my own space without
communicating and expressing anything to others and I used to have a stage fear. But, now I
have noticed a change within myself, while carrying out this particular project, I used to
communicate and interact with the client in order to understand their problems. I used to study in
order determine the relevant solution to the same and then, again interact with client and suggest
solutions tom them. Earlier. I used to like working alone, however while working for this project
I was confident in working within a team and collaborating my individual efforts with the team

in order to provide the client with an enhanced outcome. Working with the teams under this
project also helped me in determining the that now, I do not have stage fear within myself. I can
say this because, while preparing the branding strategy and Public Relations campaign for the
Regent Tutorial College, I have presented my views, suggestions and also gave presentations in
front of the client confidently. Therefore, it can be said with the help of working within a team
for the purpose of carrying out this project, I have developed self-confidence within myself to a
great extent.
How could you use your learning in your future career?
The knowledge I gained and the skills I developed within myself will help in my future
career. Most of the skills that are I developed during this project falls under the category of
interpersonal skills. The interpersonal skills will be useful in each and every field that I choose in
my future (Dierdorff, Rubin, and Ellington, 2021). The interpersonal skills include
communications skills, creative thinking skills, time management skills, decision making skills,
creative thinking and working within the teams in order to collaborate the efforts of the
workforce within the company. Therefore, these skills will help me each and every career I
choose as these are the basic skills that an individual must have in order to accomplish their
required goals. Moreover, the understanding and knowledge I gained with respect to the field of
marketing, consulting, public relations will be helpful to me if I opt for a career within this field.
TASK 2
Identification of the skills gaps and its further improvement for successful business career
Skills plays a significant role in every aspect it helps the individual to accomplish their
desired objective easily. For a better and efficient successful career, it is important for the one to
have the relevant Skills which enables them to carry out any task whether it is complex or
simple. Thus for working on the project which is about outlining the branding strategy and public
relation campaign for the regent tutorial college, overall experience was good therefore there are
some areas which required to enhance that is skill gap (Adhvaryu, Kala and Nyshadham, 2018).
Thus it is identified that there is a need for improving the communication, time management and
decision making skills. All these three skills play a significant role in covering every aspect of
the project in efficient manner. As communication skill is the major key player that helps in
conveying the message efficiently, thus for every project there are some arrangement of meeting
with the client to discuss the task, therefore in such communication is very important. Just like

communication, effective time management and decision making is also important as
management in time will lead to deliver the project on time also there is a greater chance of
better decision making which results in maximum outcomes.
ACTION PLAN
It is the tool which the individual utilised to improvise their skills and knowledge by
setting certain time frame and strategies.
Skills to improve Resources required Activity Time frame
Communication skill Online courses,
internet tutorials,
books,
communication
blogs.
To listen actively,
takes part in group
discussion, debate and
to ask feedbacks from
peers to help in
improving the skill
3 month
Time management skill Setting smart goals,
weekly priorities,
experimenting with
different time
management
approach
(Murtiningsih,
Kristiawan and Lian,
2019).
To break the task in
small modules and to
prioritize it according
to its importance, also
to start the work
earlier.
4 month
Decision making skill Feasibility study,
Decision matrix,
SWOT analysis
Write down all the
alternatives, discuss
with the peers and to
write all the pros and
cons of every aspect
will lead in making
efficient decision
2 month

Therefore, for the successful business career these skills play a crucial role, it makes the
individual to feel confident and manage any complex situation with the better knowledge and
skills that helps in growing in career.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it is illustrated that the having a skills and knowledge enables the one
to complete and deliver the project in efficient manner. Above it discusses the skills that have
developed during project, it further covers the action plan that discuss the improvement of skills
for future project.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Adhvaryu, A., Kala, N. and Nyshadham, A., 2018. The skills to pay the bills: Returns to on-the-
job soft skills training (No. w24313). National Bureau of Economic Research.
Dierdorff, E.C., Rubin, R.S. and Ellington, J.K., 2021. Interpersonal skills, role cognitions, and
OCB: Exploring mediating mechanisms and contextual constraints on role
enactment. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 129. p.103604.
Koprowska, J., 2020. Communication and interpersonal skills in social work. Sage.
Manevska, S., and et.al 2018. Bridging the gap between university curriculum and industrial
needs: A case study of teaching interpersonal skills. International Journal of
Organizational Leadership. 7(1). pp.61-70.
Murtiningsih, M., Kristiawan, M. and Lian, B., 2019. The correlation between supervision of
headmaster and interpersonal communication with work ethos of the teacher. European
Journal of Education Studies.
Warner, L.H., 2020. Developing interpersonal skills of evaluators: A service-learning
approach. American Journal of Evaluation. 41(3). pp.432-451.
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