What do you do if you want to leverage the failures of others in consulting for your career growth?

Don't let the failure of other go in vain, for the greater good. It is important to learn from our own mistakes but more so from others' mistakes so we can avoid making those in the first place. Read case studies, do market research, understand from other people what their goal was and what were the reasons their strategy didn't work out. Constant knowledge sharing and learning are the best ways to avoid flawed strategies and find robust solutions for clients.

To leverage the failures of others for career growth in consulting, embrace a continuous learning mindset and seek opportunities to glean insights from past mistakes. In my experience, studying case studies, attending industry conferences, and engaging in professional development activities help identify common pitfalls and effective strategies for success. For example, analyzing failed consulting projects can uncover valuable lessons about client communication, project management, and problem-solving techniques. I firmly agree that embracing learning and leveraging the failures of others is essential for continuous improvement and career advancement in consulting.

Analyze: Ask discreet questions (without blame) to understand what went wrong. Identify pitfalls (communication gaps, unrealistic timelines). Prevention: Build these learnings into your approach. Propose solutions during planning to avoid similar issues. Showcase proactive problem-solving. Showcase Impact: Quantify the positive impact of your foresight. Did you identify a risk others missed, saving time/money? Highlight these wins in reports and presentations. Develop Expertise: Analyze failures across projects. Look for recurring issues. Become an expert in that area, offering solutions to prevent future mistakes.

Learning is the foundation of growth. You can learn from the failure of others and you can learn from your own failures. So the first principle is to attempt a solution. Now that takes real courage. 99% of professionals duck this. They prefer to fade into the background and let others take the risk. In large organization, this can cover people for some time. But eventually you will get caught out.

Listen carefully to others' advice, and don't repeat a mistake that may cost you a lot. You don't have to do it all by yourself to prove you are capable and don't need anyone to help you. Don't be like, 'I know everything,' and tend to learn something new every day.

Analyze your own mistakes and others' mistakes to see what you can do to avoid repeating a mistake. Analyzing a mistake can save you time, energy, resources, and money.

In my experience, it's important to understand the root cause of the mistake to determine if it was a mistake or if the plan or project failed for another reason. Sometimes the failure is driven by a lack of alignment or true understanding of the problem we're trying to solve and what success looks like. Are we going too fast, too slow, not communicating effectively, not measuring the right output, etc? Sometimes the solution is not the mistake but we fail in execution.

It's essential to analyze mistakes and extract valuable lessons from them. In my experience, reflecting on past projects and identifying where things went wrong can provide insights into areas for improvement and help refine consulting approaches. For example, if a project faced challenges with stakeholder communication, I would analyze the breakdowns and develop strategies to enhance communication channels and clarity in future projects. I firmly agree that analyzing mistakes is a crucial step in leveraging failures for personal and professional growth in consulting.

When a project goes wrong, even if you revise or redo it, it is important to make an analysis of these mistakes, even so that it does not happen again, and does not cause waste of time, waste, loss of investment, etc.... It is very important to have a brainstorming meeting to exchange feedback.

Analisar os erros em detalhes permite entender as causas subjacentes das falhas em projetos de consultoria. Aproveite para revisar projetos fracassados, procurando padrões ou pontos em comum que possam indicar problemas sistêmicos. Esse tipo de análise pode ajudá-lo a identificar habilidades ou lacunas de conhecimento que você precisa resolver. Também permite propor medidas preventivas em projetos futuros, posicionando-o como um pensador proativo e estratégico aos olhos de seus clientes e pares.

In larger evaluation projects, we frequently enlist individuals from outside the project to provide an external perspective and critique. This collaborative method of gathering internal feedback before presenting it to our clients enables us to pinpoint potential blind spots that the core project team may overlook due to their proximity to the project.

Before launching a project, it is very important to review it. This review should be done together with the management and stakeholders of the organization, because once this project is launched without review, it has a high chance of something going wrong. An exchange of feedback is very important in a project.

You can actively seek feedback from colleagues, clients, and mentors. In my experience, soliciting constructive criticism helps identify blind spots and areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing consulting skills and performance. For example, after a project setback, I proactively sought feedback from clients to understand their perspectives and identify opportunities for better outcomes in the future. I firmly agree that seeking feedback is essential for leveraging failures as valuable learning experiences and driving career growth in consulting.

Seek feedback not only from your colleagues in the organization but also from other peers—sometimes all over the world. That's why having a solid connection is very essential.

Launch an automated campaign generated by AI with 5 emails asking random consultants to "spare you 5-10 mins" for some interviews because you want to "learn the market". Of course make this a sales pitch using "crafted questions" that "trigger the pain points" and elevate through to your offer that solve the pain points. This is your prelude to "share knowledge" see below.

Leveraging the failures of others in consulting for your career growth involves several steps: 1. Learn from Case Studies:Study case studies or post-mortems of failed projects or ventures to understand what went wrong and why. 2. Develop Solutions: Use your insights to develop innovative solutions or strategies to mitigate similar risks in future projects. 3.Demonstrate Expertise:Share your insights with colleagues or clients to showcase your expertise in risk management and problem-solving. Remember, while learning from failure is valuable, it's equally important to focus on successes and learn from those as well.

Any and all changes to be made in a review must be well accepted, because we have several people involved in a project, and for sure the success will not be only yours but everyone's, so you have to be prepared to give feedback, but also receive feedback.

Implement changes based on lessons learned from past mistakes. In my experience, adapting strategies and approaches is crucial for continuous improvement and success. For example, if a consulting project encountered challenges due to inadequate risk assessment, I would implement a more thorough risk management process in future projects. I firmly agree that taking action to implement changes is essential for leveraging failures as opportunities for personal and professional growth in consulting.

Don't overwhelm. Start small with quick wins that show progress. Collaborate with stakeholders, involve them in solutions, and address concerns. Transparency is key – communicate challenges, changes, benefits, and timelines. Avoid blame, rushing in, or ignoring feedback. Thoughtful, collaborative change implementation is key to success.

When you share your knowledge and experiences with others, they will start to trust you and consider you a worthy, experienced expert that they can count on to answer their questions.

When you're reviewing the project, you'll be taking advantage of that sharing of ideas to improve your knowledge so that in the very near future your projects will be successful.

As an IT consultant, I've learned the value of effective processes and technology in mitigating mistakes and driving success. Reflecting on my career transition from financial controller to IT project manager, I recognize the pivotal role errors played in shaping my journey. Overcomplicated and error-prone spreadsheets prompted me to seek database-driven solutions, emphasizing the importance of streamlined processes. For instance, AI algorithms can analyze vast datasets to identify cost-saving opportunities, and help share knowledge. Sharing such insights with peers fosters collective learning and growth, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement within the organization.

Sell overpriced (sorry high-ticket) courses and coaching promising consultants they will land clients "at will" and make 10k a month recurring in 90 days WITHOUT doing anything they don't like doing. You could start with a bullshit book that is free (only pay shipping for 15 bucks) and sell that via Fb ads, and then through emails offer a free "strategy call" to elevate the sell to your overpriced (sorry high ticket I can't get this right today) coaching offer.

Embracing continuous reflection on the failures and successes of others is key to leveraging their experiences for career growth in consulting. Regularly dedicate time to analyze lessons learned, their application, and resulting outcomes. By consistently refining your approach based on these insights, you evolve into a more adept consultant, adept at navigating challenges and maximizing opportunities. This proactive approach fosters professional development and positions you as a valuable asset in driving positive outcomes for clients.

Once you've identified the mistakes and implemented solutions, share your learnings with colleagues. This can be through internal presentations, mentoring, or even contributing to articles like this one! By helping others avoid similar pitfalls, you're not just helping them, you're strengthening the entire Salesforce consulting community.

Learning from others' failures extends beyond the immediate project. Imagine a marketing campaign that failed due to a poorly defined target audience. By understanding this misstep, you can ensure your own campaigns are laser-focused on the right demographics, maximizing ROI. Share these learnings with colleagues to elevate the entire team's marketing efforts. Remember, a culture of open communication and shared experiences fosters continuous learning and growth for everyone involved.