Consulting Skills for ITPros
- March 12 · 6:00 PM
Whether you are consultant or part of an internal corporate team, sometimes, as much as you may want to avoid it, you just have to talk to the customer. You need to know how to find out their requirements, let them know if they are on a bad or good course of action and explain yourself clearly. In this session, we'll talk about some of the so-called "soft-skills" that consultants need in order to succeed with their clients. How to listen effectively, communicate clearly (including with PowerPoint), and gather and communicate plans and requirements. In this session, you'll hear from someone who has been doing tech consulting for over 25 years, and hear about approaches and techniques that will lessen the pain and make you more successful in dealing with your internal or external clients.
About Presenter:
Ruven Gotz is a Director with Avanade, Microsoft’s Global Partner. As a Microsoft SharePoint MVP with over 20 years of IT industry experience, Ruven has spent the past nine years delivering award-winning SharePoint solutions for a wide range of clients. Working as a Business Analyst and Information Architect, Ruven is able to apply his eclectic education and varied experience in Psychology, Computer Science, Economics, Software Development and Training to get to the heart of complex problems. Ruven is a great communicator who is able to discuss technology concepts in language that is relevant to his audience, whether they are from IT or business. He has become a leader in the use of visual tools to help his clients and team members achieve shared understanding of problems and goals and shared commitment towards implementing a successful solution.
Ruven recently authored “Practical SharePoint 2010 Information Architecture” (Apress)
Ruven lives in Toronto, Canada. On Tuesday nights in the summer, you’ll find him racing his 24’ sailboat ‘In the Groove’
Ruven’s blog is at http://spinsiders.com/ruveng and you can follow him on Twitter at @RuvenG.
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Tyler Pelletier
Karl W. Palachuk
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March 17
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Tyler Pelletier
Karl W. Palachuk
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March 21
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Colin Wu
Not quite what I expected from the original description but useful nonetheless. While having the right tools is important, developing the right soft skills is much more than just having the right tools. It's about developing the right mind-set. Ruven clearly already has the right mind-set and the tools he showed us enhanced his effectiveness. Without the right mind-set you could just as easily end up fiddling with the tools rather than really listening to your customers. I expected to hear more about how to develop that right mind-set.
1 · March 13
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Max Yermakhanov
Interesting comment, Colin. Thank you. I will make sure to pass your feedback to Ruven. Thank you again for coming, and we're looking forward to seeing you at our next meeting(s)...
March 13
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Tony
Ruven really opened my mind on how to capture complex issues and I am going to have a fun time using the techniques that he expounded throughout the presentation. I enjoyed when he explained the concept of "Wicked Problems." Outstanding, indeed. Also, the spirit of the meetup was breathtaking and I learned a lot. Also, I enjoyed meeting old colleagues and meeting new colleagues. Some, have become friends of mine. This was an excellent meetup.
Again, Ruven, Max and Anthony from Microsoft - Many Thanks and Cheers!
March 13
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Max Yermakhanov
Thank you, Tony. I will make sure to pass your feedback to Ruven. Thank you for coming, and we're looking forward to seeing you at our next meeting(s)...
March 13
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Tony
You are most welcome. In addition, thank you for being the President to this function. You will surely see me in your next meetups. Take care!
March 13
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Norman Wong
Excellent topic, very refreshingly different. Only thing presenter didn't cover was how to acquire more customers using his methods as presentation lead. Presentation room was too full this time, maybe we could get their auditorium (assuming they have one) next time for such a large signup?
March 12
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Max Yermakhanov
Thank you, Norman. We always looking for a bigger room. There is not a lot of them in the city, or more precisely, there is not a lot of bigger rooms in the city that companies will let us use those rooms. Trios College was nice enough to let us use their room and we're thankful for it. Please let us know if you know of any other facilities with larger room that we can use.
March 13
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Max Yermakhanov
I will add a topic on "how to get more customers" to a list of potential topics, Norman. Do you know of anyone who will be interested in presenting on this topic?
March 13
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Max Yermakhanov
Thank you, Ian! I will make sure to pass your feedback to Ruven. Thank you for coming, and we're looking forward to seeing you at our next meeting(s)...
March 13
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Tyler Pelletier
Great presentation Similar to the Hamilton SharePoint user group presentation.
March 13
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Max Yermakhanov
Thank you all for coming to tonight's meeting. Here is a link to tonight's presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/ruven...
March 12
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sunny p.badalera
Sorry guys can't make it, will join you next time if you redo this presentation.
March 12
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Alwin Kunder
Hi Max, Could you please publish the presentation so that those of us who can't make it can still benefit from it as this is a skill is a definite plus for any successful IT PRO ....
March 11
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Max Yermakhanov
We will... if it's ok with a presenter, and if there will be a powerpoint file to share.
March 11
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vennisa
Hi, Max: if the presentation starts at 7pm, it means it will be fine as long as I get there by 7, right? I guess from 6-7, it is more for social and pro mingle, right?
thanks
March 10
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Max Yermakhanov
Yes, pizza and social gathering starts at 6pm, but the presentation starts at 7pm.
March 11
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Max Yermakhanov
There is street parking available... It's not free, but it's available. There is also a subway station right nearby...
March 10
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Max Yermakhanov
We're excited to have new members of IT Pro Toronto come to our monthly meetings... It should be a fun event.
March 10
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Max Yermakhanov
Presentation starts at 7pm... If you leave at 7pm, you will miss the entire presentation. :(
March 10
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Tyler Pelletier
Ruven Gotz is a great presenter he presented at the Hamilton SharePoint User Group.
2 · February 13
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