This is an apprenticeship
Successful consultants are intrinsically motivated. We value a sense of purpose, autonomy, and mastery. We enjoy working in flow state and getting good at our craft. Ideally, we get so good that new clients coming looking for us.
After seeing and training hundreds of professionals, I believe real craftsmanship comes from deliberate practice. Think of it like a medical residency program for doctors where interns observe attending physicians, and as they progress, they transform from a student to a teacher.
In a consulting context, it might look like this:
- See one: study, research, observe others, see patterns, see how it fits you, ask good questions
- Do one: do the work, overcome obstacles, customize to the situation, win & fail & learn, ask good questions
- Teach one: simplify, develop a point of view, teach, coach, assess understanding, ask good questions
NB: Consulting is an apprenticeship where you learn from a community of partners, managers, clients, and colleagues. So, find several talented and generous people who you can learn from. Be a great apprentice by asking good questions.
Consulting is a practice
It’s not an art, or a science. It’s a practice. You can practice this stuff everywhere – in your career, your volunteer work, your hobbies, and your personal life. Skills are fungible.
Consultants know a little bit about a lot and yet, they know how to put it together into realistic solutions:
- Do research and get smart on new topics
- Simplify and break down problems
- Develop novel and strategic solutions
Great consulting = great client relationships.
- Adapt solutions to client’s situation
- Gain the client’s trust and actively collaborate
- Enable the client’ success
- Source new “add-on” business or referrals
Complex problems usually require teams of diverse talent. How good are you at leading people different than you?
- Scope and run profitable projects
- Recruit, lead, mentor new consulting talent
- Develop a strong point-of-view; become the expert
Who is apprenticing you?
Who are you apprenticing?
The post came from my book, Consulting Fundamentals: Skills, Tools, and Tips here.
It mirrors the content in the Coursera Management Consulting specialization here. Hope you find it helpful.
