Having worked in consulting since I graduated university, I’ve always been part of the industry, however, it wasn’t until I was interviewing with Managementors a few years ago that I first heard about Chartership. Joining a company that was committed to the principles underlying Chartership, and one that would support me in my journey to get chartered, was a big selling point in my decision to join the firm. This was then something I was eager to pursue once I’d settled into my role in the firm.
Coming from an engineering background, chartership was a familiar concept with many of my friends and family members being chartered in their respective fields. It always felt like a missed opportunity that we, as management consultants, didn’t have a similar benchmark to accredit our skills, experience, and ethics. Especially in an industry that often faces scrutiny for supposedly not adding true value to clients, chartership plugs the gap of providing that much-needed credibility.
For me, obtaining chartered status, and working for a firm that has an aligned and accredited training programme, represents a commitment to high standards and ethical practices. It’s a powerful way to show the consulting industry, and our clients, that we’re serious about delivering true value.
At Managementors I was the first person to pursue chartered status, which was both exciting and a bit daunting. The process was somewhat uncharted territory, but the MCA was incredibly supportive, offering guidance and connecting me with people who had already gone through the journey.
While the idea of obtaining chartership initially seemed intimidating, I found the process increasingly enjoyable and beneficial once I started preparing. It forced me to reflect on my career – what had gone well, what hadn’t, and the lessons I’d learned along the way. After submitting my written application, the turnaround time to the interview was surprisingly quick. The interview itself was a positive experience, allowing me to delve into the details of my work and how it aligned with chartership standards. And the best part? I passed and am officially a Chartered Management Consultant!
Looking back, the process of aligning my projects to the chartership framework has increased my self-awareness of the value I bring to my clients. It’s also made me more intentional about my current and future projects, ensuring they meet the highest standards and help deliver better results.
The chartership framework covers all aspects of being an effective management consultant, ensuring that you’re equipped with the skills needed to deliver true value to your clients. The experience required to gain chartered status means you’ve encountered and resolved a range of challenges, learning valuable lessons along the way. Additionally, the continuous professional development component ensures that we’re always learning, staying up to date with the latest tools and methods. It holds me accountable for my ongoing development, keeping my skills sharp and preventing complacency.
For firms, supporting employees in their chartership journey demonstrates a commitment to their development, marks a dedication to quality and ethics, and improves the trust clients can place in them. It’s encouraging to see the consulting industry moving in this direction, which can only be a positive one, helping to address some of the negative perceptions of consultants – a personal mission of mine with every client I work with.
To anyone on the fence about pursuing chartership, I strongly encourage you to go for it. And for firms that haven’t yet aligned their training programmes with chartership standards, I highly recommend doing so – not only for the quality and trust it builds with clients, but also as a recruitment advantage. Chartership offers a sense of accomplishment for what you’ve achieved and keeps you striving to continue adding value to your clients in the future.
I’m pleased to have led the way at Managementors in obtaining my chartership, with my focus now on encouraging and supporting others in the firm to through the process.
