Last week I met with a number of my clients, while helping them plan for upcoming project work. One of the questions I asked the group was, "What makes a good consultant a great consultant?"
By my estimation, my client group represented close to 100 years combined experience working with consultants in all sorts of different capacities.
Like an expert sharpshooter, their answers were consistently grouped.
- A real focus on the customer. Quick question, which is most important? Your firm's goals or your personal career path? Neither, without a real focus on your customer both will never fully materialize.
- The ability to quickly bridge knowledge gaps. Although the client often dreams of the perfect consulting resource, rarely does one individual meet the complete wish list. Possessing the ability to quickly get up to speed in areas where you may lack knowledge is tremendously useful for the great consultant.
- Drive, persistance, determination. You might be a Rhodes scholar, have prestigious university credentials and speak fluent Mandarin. I'm still taking the guy who has demonstrated he won't give up when things get tough, the pit bull who won't let go of his toy until he has won the tug o' war.
- Listening and communication skills. No matter how good you think you are in these soft skills, as a great consultant you should always be trying to get better. I intend to do a post specifically on these two traits soon.
- Personality. Consulting is tough sledding. Many hours are spent in the trenches, deadlines are always looming, tensions can run high. How do you react when things don't go your way? Do you play well with others? Great consultant's won't be rattled easily.
About Us:
At CompassX we know all about strategy implementation and great project execution excellence, 80% of our client work is focused on nothing else.
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