The best consultants reveal their expertise in unexpected places. While most focus on polished presentations and client portfolios, Paul Bilbro, Project Manager at SFA Cabinets, found exceptional Smartsheet consulting expertise in community forums, where one consultant was happy simply helping people solve problems.
That’s how Paul Newcome first stood out — by consistently showing up in the Smartsheet Community, a go-to space where users turn for expert support and practical answers.
“Every single post, it seemed like there was Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul,” Bilbro recalls about Paul Newcome’s consistent presence in Smartsheet discussions. That curiosity led him to follow a signature link to 10xViz, starting a partnership that transformed his organization’s project management approach.
The community classroom: Where real learning happens
For genuine experts, technical community engagement isn’t about marketing — it’s about staying sharp. Forums are where consultants run into problems that no training manual covers and learn about new features as they’re released.
Here’s the reality: technology moves faster than formal training programs. The consultant who learned Smartsheet three years ago and stopped engaging? They’re working with outdated knowledge. The consultant who’s answering forum questions every day? They’re discovering new features and improving their solutions through real-world challenges.
When Paul ran into complex portfolio-level problems, he needed more than the typical forum response of “it depends.” He needed consultants who’d actually solved similar issues publicly, not just theoretical knowledge from old case studies. That consistent problem-solving presence is what led him to Paul Newcome and ultimately to 10xViz. Because real expertise doesn’t manifest in marketing materials — it shows up where people seek help.
Walking the walk: Actions speak louder than portfolios
Here’s what’s telling: helping people in forums takes real time with no guarantee of getting clients. That’s why it’s such a good indicator of genuine expertise. As Paul Bilbro puts it, Paul Newcome was “just this huge contributor, huge power user” who showed up everywhere people needed help.
Those 36,000+ posts represent years of solving problems for strangers — showing skills publicly instead of just claiming them in sales meetings. “I was like, man, who is this guy?” Paul remembers thinking. That curiosity about someone’s consistent helpfulness is what you want when evaluating consultants.
The best consultants give detailed, thoughtful solutions rather than quick, generic advice. They tackle complex challenges, work well with other experts, and stay professional even when they’re helping people for free. When genuine experts show up consistently in forums, they’re building credibility that you can’t fake with marketing — the kind that made Paul think, “I really love building solutions to business problems with technology,” and recognize a kindred spirit.
What community engagement reveals about consultants
Active technical community engagement gives you insights into consultant capabilities that you’ll never get from a sales presentation. When you watch how consultants interact in forums, you’re seeing their real professional approach — just like Paul did when he discovered 10xViz. Here’s what to look for:
- Current knowledge and platform mastery: Consultants discussing the latest updates stay current with the technology. You can see them troubleshooting new features, sharing workarounds for recent bugs, and helping users adapt to changes. This real-time knowledge is invaluable.
- Problem-solving approach: Watch how consultants break down complex challenges in their responses. Do they ask good questions? Do they give step-by-step solutions? Do they consider different approaches? In a forum, you can see their methodology in action.
- Communication skills: Forums show whether consultants can explain technical concepts clearly to regular users. The best ones are patient, use accessible language, and help people understand not just what to do, but why.
- Team player attitude: Real experts learn from others, admit when they don’t know something, and build on other people’s solutions. They handle disagreement respectfully and show genuine curiosity about different approaches.
- Genuine passion: Consultants who spend their time helping strangers are driven by more than just billable hours. This passion leads to continuous learning and cutting-edge expertise, not just routine service.
The business impact of community-proven expertise
When consultants invest their time helping others succeed, they’re building the expertise and collaborative mindset that directly benefits your implementation. Organizations that partner with community-active consultants get measurable advantages that impact project success. Here’s why community engagement matters for your bottom line:
- Faster problem-solving: Consultants bring proven capabilities from their forum history instead of theoretical knowledge that needs testing on your dime.
- Current platform knowledge: Access the latest features and best practices through consultants who see diverse challenges across industries every day.
- Reduced risk: Public track records show consultant success rates, communication effectiveness, and technical accuracy across similar challenges.
- Cultural fit preview: See communication styles, collaborative approaches, and professional behavior before making hiring decisions.
- Quality assurance: Community experts validate solutions through public discussion, ensuring proven methods.
- Ongoing learning: Consultants demonstrate continuous knowledge growth through community engagement instead of getting stuck after formal training.
- Real-world testing: Expertise expanded through diverse scenarios prevents common problems and speeds up delivery.
Choosing consultants who earn trust daily
The next time your organization needs Smartsheet consulting expertise, look where people actually go for help. The forum test reveals consultants who show their value through consistent action, not just marketing claims.
Paul Bilbro’s curiosity about that helpful guy in every forum post led him to a partnership that transformed his organization. “They will be our Smartsheet provider forevermore,” he says confidently about 10xViz.
Real experts don’t just talk about what they can do — they demonstrate it every day in communities where their future clients are solving problems. When you find consultants who consistently show up where people need help, you’ve found partners who care about relationships built on proven expertise.
Ready to partner with consultants who demonstrate their expertise daily? Schedule a consultation with 10xViz’s community-proven team.
