trust Archives - Collective 54

The First 100 Days: How Professional Services Firms Can Build Trust, Set Direction, and Accelerate Client Impact

Greg Alexander / July 3, 2025

For consulting and professional services firms, the first 100 days of a client engagement are make-or-break. This early phase sets the foundation for everything that follows—building connection and credibility, aligning expectations, surfacing hidden risks, and accelerating results. At Empactful Advisors, we approach this critical window not as “ramp-up time,” but as a deliberate opportunity to deliver value, build trust, and shape long-term success.

Pro Serv Blogs

Operational Excellence in Conversion: The Discipline Behind a Seamless Customer Experience

Greg Alexander / May 19, 2025

In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, banks and credit unions are under more pressure than ever to modernize their technology stacks and streamline operations. Whether upgrading core systems, migrating digital platforms, or integrating newly acquired entities, one constant remains: the need for disciplined, precise execution of conversion activities. At Smith Consulting Group, we’ve guided dozens of institutions through these mission-critical transformations, and we’ve seen firsthand that operational excellence is the cornerstone of successful change.

Pro Serv Blogs

The 7 Habits of Highly Trusted Consultants

Greg Alexander / May 2, 2025

A proven blueprint for professional services leaders who want to turn delivery into differentiation .“You’re the first consultant that made my team feel like I knew what was actually going on day to day. Compared to (competitor), I’m glad you asked questions early, and gave me updates often. ”That’s what a client told me after just two weeks of working together. They weren’t praising a breakthrough insight or a brilliant feature. They were talking about our disciplined process — and the relief it gave them.