4 lesser-known skills needed to succeed as a management consultant
And impress your clients
Management Consulting is thrilling.
One day you are crunching numbers, while the next day you are creating a compelling presentation. On yet another day, you’re solving client issues, followed by attending a training session to expand your skill set.
No two days are the same.
In my two years as a management consultant, I experienced lots of ups and downs.
In the process, I discovered the key skills needed to survive and thrive in this job.
A good consultant is a great listener
Before joining consulting, I thought it was all about problem-solving.
Sure, it is. But before solving the problem, you need to understand what the problem is. Not at a surface level, but in depth.
Which only happens when you listen carefully.
Hence, it is crucial to listen to the client, understand their problem, and figure out where you come in. Often, listening between words helps uncover nuggets of information, you wouldn't get otherwise.
Don't listen merely to respond to them. Listen with an intent to help.
This will improve both the approach and the solution.
A good consultant is good at building relationships
By relationships, I do not mean networking.
Networking to me is connecting with others with the intent of getting something from them. This sets a negative context for your relationship. Instead, keep it natural.
Humans can sense when you want something from them and when you are genuinely interested in connecting with them.
As a consultant, you interact with several internal and external stakeholders. Of course, there is a business intention behind these interactions.
But if you can make them more humane, you will find your work done easily.
I once worked with a client who we were pitching our services. We proposed we would manage the task initially, and gradually hand it over to them so they don't need to rely on us for that piece of work.
This meant less business for us.
But it laid the foundation for a good relationship. They knew we were doing what was best for them and not billing them unnecessarily. This built trust and we ended up getting more business with them.
Always build relationships with good intent.
A good consultant is good at managing stress
Consulting can be overwhelming.
The volume of work is stressful. You need to work under pressure to deliver quality results on time, especially around deadlines.
But if managed effectively, stress can be channeled into productivity.
This is what I do when it gets overwhelming:
- Take a walk in nature
- Spend time with family
- Call a friend to discuss my day and check on theirs
- Read a book
I then pick up work with a fresh mind. This not only boosts my productivity but also enhances the quality of my work and keeps me calm.
A good consultant is flexible
Flexibility is a core skill needed to succeed as a consultant.
Consulting is a dynamic environment. Client needs, project requirements, deliverables, and deadlines keep on evolving. They are rarely the same as agreed upon.
Even the day-to-day workload keeps changing as per business and client needs.
This means you cannot be a consultant and work with a stringent mindset. You must be flexible in your ways and approach.
Accepting and adapting is what separates a good consultant from a bad one.
As a management consultant, you juggle diverse projects at once. You are required to give your best in an ever-changing environment.
Having these skills in your back pocket can help not only tackle everyday challenges but also outperform your peers.
As a recap, good consultants:
- Listen
- Build good relationships
- Manage stress well
- Are flexible
