Going from okay to excellent

This week I saw another example of deliberate practice and how small, incremental changes can make a massive difference to a consultant's performance.

This consultant was creating a client pitch. Their first pass was okay, satisfactory. We talked though some areas for improvement. On the second pass they emphasised key phrases, making their message much clearer. It had greater impact.

Then they added a visual element to the presentation, which introduced another modality to help keep the client's attention. This third pass was really good.

Finally they worked on cadence, tone, and emphasis. Their end product is excellent.

This is a lot like preparing a theatrical performance. Final delivery of the pitch is like being an actor on stage in front of the audience. Deliberate practice is the hours of work that go into rehearsals before that.

Consider how much time you invest, or don't, in deliberate practice for your most important client facing activities. Outreach, Meetings, Networking, Referrals, Pitches, Negotiation ... these are all front-stage consulting.

Then think about the difference between a professional West End production with Imelda Staunton and amateur dramatics at your local village hall.

What type of experience do you want to create for your clients?