No college can properly prepare an IT professional for everything he or she needs to build and run successful services business in today’s highly competitive environment.
That’s not a knock on the post-secondary educational system, but an acknowledgment that all the information and skills you need to grow a viable solution provider practice can’t be obtained at the local university. Most MSPs start and grow their operations today in a similar fashion as doctors and lawyers did back in the 1700s and 1800s. Few had university degrees, they simply memorized the basics from books before applying for apprenticeships. Most prospective doctors and lawyers worked with experienced peers to gain the knowledge and practical experience required to serve their respective clients.
That’s simply what they needed to do to start their own practices. Sound familiar? There really are no prerequisites to setting up an IT services business. Most simply “hang out their shingle” and get to work. The typical business development curve for solutions providers starts with a basic understanding of the concepts required to open the doors. Most are, after all, technical experts first. Business expertise is often acquired along the way, through self-training or hiring. Educational growth, like sales, is driven more by chance than by planning.
While many business experts spend years undergoing years in formal classroom settings to learn how to properly build and manage organizations, a vast majority of that training in the channel happens “on the job.” Some learn from their own success and failures, though peer mentoring is an excellent way to avoid the pitfalls. Quality time with an experienced professional expertly guiding you through the “do’s and don’ts” of building a business is invaluable. After all, the best instructors are typically those with a deep, personal understanding of their subject matter.
While those experts may not always have the time or the skills required to mentor their peers one-on-one, many still find a way to share their insight and self-developed tools with others in the IT channel. That’s a common factor in peer group meetings, as members offer ideas and best practices that have helped them improve specific parts of their own service offerings, back-office operations or customer-related activities. When new solution providers get an opportunity to talk with and collaborate with those with first-hand experience running successful channel businesses, it creates the proverbial “rising tide that raises all boats.” Those who offer tips, suggestions and warnings that help their peers improve their service processes and other operations often end up strengthening their own management skills and techniques as well.
Creating a More Advanced, Collaborative Method for Channel Training
Mentoring and peer group participation are each great training activities. Unfortunately, due to time, location and other factors, not everyone can take advantage of them. That’s where the CompTIA Channel Training program can really help. This catalog of educational resources was developed specifically for solution providers, in most cases, by solution providers. This is where the association leverages its members' experience and knowledge to create resources that boost the entire industry. Who better to mentor those building an IT business that those who have already succeeded?
CompTIA Channel training provides access to a wide variety of experienced subject matter experts who cover everything from building a new specialization or technology practice to improving an IT organization’s cash flow and vendor partnerships.
Interested in step-by-step guides that your team can consume at its own pace and convenience? You have scores to choose from, with tremendous insight and the latest best practices from experienced and successful peer professionals. Looking for on-demand videos for team lunches or individual training sessions? They’re in there, too.
While the full portfolio is accessible to Premier members, many of these educational resources are also available to those who simply register online. The CompTIA Channel Training program covers the latest topics as well as those that matter to every solution provider, including:
• Cloud Computing
• IT Security
• Managed Services
• Mobility
• Social Strategies
• Tech Convergence
• Vertical Markets
•General Channel Education
These resources truly are the “next best thing” to an in-house mentorship for solution providers. CompTIA makes it easier to obtain the most crucial skills needed to build and run an IT services business. Have any skills gaps you'd like to address in 2016? If so, be sure to check out the catalog to find the right resource for your team today!
Brian Sherman is Chief Content Officer at GetChanneled, a channel business development and marketing firm. He served previously as chief editor at Business Solutions magazine and senior director of industry alliances with Autotask. Contact Brian at Bsherman@getchanneled.com
