Most Important Skills for a Freelance Consultant Working for Yourself
Manaf, a nonprofit consultant and freelance project manager, emphasizes the importance of self-branding and identifying one's core strengths as a freelancer, noting that "expertise can shift" depending on the organization's needs. The ability to utilize "critical thinking skills" and "ask tough questions" to help nonprofits expand their impact are also crucial for success in this field.
Project Management, Critical Thinking, Communication, Problem-Solving, Adaptability
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Manaf Mansure
Nonprofit Consultant and Freelance Project Manager
Self-Employed
University of California, Los Angeles
Harvard University, MEd in Organizations, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship
Fine Arts, Music
Education, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Manaf's expertise in CRM building and event planning highlights the diverse skillset needed in consulting.
2. Critical thinking and asking tough questions are crucial for analyzing organizational impact and suggesting improvements.
3. Understanding your strengths and tailoring services to client needs is vital for successful freelancing and consulting.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
I think some of the most important skills for a freelancer or consultant are to be really aware and to brand the type of services and skills that they can offer. The great thing about being a freelancer or consultant is that you're picking out what you're really great at or what you have strengths in. Then you think about the services, the products, and the projects that you can deliver, and the expertise you can bring to an organization.
I'm always figuring out, and also learning, that my expertise can shift, especially in different settings. I might be better suited to build a CRM for one group, and I might be better suited to plan an event for another. It really depends on the organization, their needs, their culture, and what I'm ready to do for them, and what I'm ready to learn with them as well.
Not all organizations are looking for experts. Many organizations are looking for people who have incredible critical thinking skills, who can ask tough questions, and who can help really think about how an organization can expand its impact. They want someone who can stretch the organization to think about what that impact could look like, and maybe alter it a little to enhance it.
So, I think critical thinking, asking the tough questions, and having a good sense of the services and products you can provide are really critical to being a freelancer or a consultant.