Are you ready to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

In my last post, I discussed the common trait of arrogance that is prolific in the professional services industry. If your goal from reading this blog is to improve your professional services business, you must be be prepared to suffer some personal anguish.

For you to get value from this blog series, you have to be prepared to honestly assess your business, and be truthful in that assessment. Yes, I'm intending to have an emphasis on the truthfullness. :-)

If you aren't prepared to be completely honest (in otherwords, you can't release yourself from your own arrogance) I would suggest you check out someonelse's blog. Sure, there may be a nugget of knowledge you can glean here and there. Just know, the real knowledge, the real value, comes from embracing the PSMM.

em·brace
1. to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug.
2.to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.
3.to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.
4.to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace Buddhism.
5.to take in with the eye or the mind.

This blog series is going to require you to be truthful. Truthful about your company. Truthful about your consultants. Truthful about the services your firm provides. Truthful about your office staff. Truthful about your sales staff. Truthful about your partners. Truthful about the manner in which your client spends with you. Most importantly, you're going to get at the truth for how your Customers perceive you.

Truth hurts. It really really does. In a future post, I will describe to you that you that if you really do want to mature, you're going to have to ask your customers for their perspective of you. That's when it will really hurt. Why is it going to hurt so bad? Well, the answer gets back to the arrogance that embodies our industry. Chances are the feedback you'll receive from your client is very different your own personal arrogant perspective of your company.

Hold on, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The real Truth, however, will set you free. Once you know the truth of how your firm is positioned on the PSMM, you will be in a much better position to accelerate your maturity (think innovation, think competitive strategies, think growth). This process will only work if you come at it from a purely objective point of view. Challenge yourself at every question. Play devil's advocate with your answers. Being truthful is tough, especially in the professional services industry. But, I will tell you, the truth can be, and should be, addicting. As an added benefit, not only will your firm improve by being truthful, you'll obtain a higher level of personal satisfaction as well. And by the way, your customers will love you for it.