Attributes of the Successful Consultant

Group Dynamics Keep your focus on accomplishing the task at hand rather than your personal status within the hierarchy of the group. Building relationships within a team is more important than asserting oneself into the group leadership position. The goal is for individual team members to work on tasks they are best at. Effectiveness within a group is built on establishing personal creditability. This is accomplished by actions. People judge us more on what we do than what we say. Group leadership will evolve as the team matures. Read this on team development. Listening skills are crucial to working well within a group. Groups are formed to exchange information and pool expertise. They are not forums to show everyone how much you know. The goal is to solve problems and you very rarely learn what you need to help solve them when you are talking. I work well in a team.

Communications I am excellent at explaining concepts and tools to people in a context they can understand. Teaching others what I know and how things work is something is a natural skill of mine. I also like to give honest, useful advice. I always tell the truth. Unless it is true, I do not like to tell people only what they want to hear.

Problem solving Identifying optimal solutions take time. One must be highly organized and take a methodical, structured approach. Explore every identifiable avenue to reach the best possible analysis. Processes and people can unintentionally obscure root causes. If the answers to client’s problems were easy to spot, they would have discovered them already and not called in a consultant to fix them.

Mobility The consultancy world involves travel. Being able to keep up with the schedule, hours, sleep disruption and pace are crucial, but not sufficient, to being an effective road warrior. One must be comfortable working with different people, in changing venues, using whatever tools are at hand. Inability to deal with travel is the number one reason professionals leave the field. But travel brings us to exciting new situations, clients and their problems to solve. Like most successful consultants, I become energized when I face these opportunities.

Personal enrichment The tools of consulting are constantly evolving as new tools prove their value and effectiveness. Technology and change management methodologies are continually improving. Learning new techniques and applications is an essential element of a successful consultant. I love exploring new subjects and mastering new skills. While consultants will recognize this is an obvious characteristic, not everyone feels this way which is one reason why consulting is not for everyone.

Pressure Anxiety is something we bring with us. A good consultant is motivated by pressure. The more chaotic or serious the situation, the calmer and clear thinking I become. Time constraints only focus my efforts to meeting them.

Sales Creating the next assignment has always been at least part of my work. I am always on the lookout for new or expanded mandates..

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