How to become a time management consultant

How to become a Time Management Consultant

To become a successful time management consultant, you need a mix of education, hands-on experience, proven skills, and ongoing learning. Here’s a look at the typical path into this career:

Steps in the Process

• Gain Foundational Skills – Learn the basics in a related field (see Educational Requirements).
• Get Hands-On Experience – Work in roles where productivity matters, like project management, operations, or corporate training.
• Choose a Specialization – Pick a niche to focus on, such as remote teams, specific software, or a particular industry.
• Earn Certification – Get a recognized credential to show your expertise (see Certifications / Credentials below).
• Build a Portfolio – Start with pro-bono or low-cost projects to collect case studies and testimonials showing real results (e.g., “Cut a client’s meeting time by 30%”).
• Establish Your Presence – Create a website, publish articles or a book, and actively network to attract paying clients.

Educational Requirements and Options
While there is no single mandated degree, a background in fields related to human behavior and organizational structure is highly beneficial:

• Bachelor’s Degree (Highly Recommended) – Fields like business administration, industrial and organizational psychology, industrial engineering, organizational communication, or management-information-systems (MIS) provide strong foundations in business processes, workflow analysis, and human factors.
• Master’s Degree (Helpful for Corporate Consulting) – An MBA or a master’s in a related field can help you access higher-paying corporate consulting roles and give you advanced skills in research and organizational change.
• Self-Directed Learning – Regularly study both classic and modern productivity methods (like GTD, the Pomodoro Technique, or Deep Work) and become skilled with key productivity software.

Certifications / Credentials
Certifications for productivity methods generally fall into two categories: those for widely recognized professional methodologies used in business or project management, and trainer certifications for personal productivity systems.

Formal Professional Methodologies (Business and Project Management)
These certifications are well-known in professional settings and help improve team and organizational productivity:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) – A globally recognized certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI). It focuses on managing scope, cost, and risks—essential skills for running projects efficiently.
• Agile Certifications (e.g., PMI-ACP, Certified ScrumMaster - CSM) – Show expertise in adaptive planning and iterative development methods like Scrum, Lean, and Kanban, which help project teams work efficiently and respond quickly to change.
• Lean Six Sigma – Focuses on improving processes by cutting waste and reducing errors. Offered through organizations like the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) and the American Society for Quality (ASQ), it comes in belt levels (Green Belt, Black Belt) and is widely used to boost operational efficiency.
• Kanban Management Professional (KMP) – Certifies the ability to design and implement Kanban systems to improve workflow in organizations.
• IMS Productivity Analyst – A professional credential for those serious about measuring and enhancing productivity in business or industrial settings.

Personal Productivity Methods (Trainer Certifications)
For popular personal productivity systems, certifications are typically available for those who want to become accredited coaches or trainers to teach the method to others:

• Certified Getting Things Done (GTD) Coach/Practitioner – Individuals can become a certified coach to teach David Allen's GTD methodology, which focuses on capturing, clarifying, organizing, reflecting on, and engaging with tasks to achieve ‘stress-free productivity.’
• Certified Bullet Journal Trainer – This program authorizes individuals to officially teach the Bullet Journal method, a system that combines planning, time management, and goal-setting using a notebook.

General Training / Courses
Many other productivity techniques (e.g., the Pomodoro Technique, Eisenhower Matrix, Time Blocking) can be learned via numerous online courses available on platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Skillshare, which provide certificates of completion but are generally not formal, industry-wide certifications.

Professional Organizations
In addition to the certifying bodies referenced above in the Certifications / Credentials section, the following organizations also support the time management consulting community through networking and continuing education opportunities.

• Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP) – ACMP is a valuable resource for time management consultants who focus on the organizational impact of process changes.
• International Coaching Federation (ICF) – The ICF conducts various training programs and administers a suite of certifications targeted at professional coaches, some of which may be beneficial for time management consultants.
• National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) – While often focused on physical organizing, NAPO has a strong sub-section dealing with time management and digital productivity, offering excellent resources for solo practitioners.