Podcast: Wake Up, You Are a Consultant

Original Article:

Wake up, You are a Consultant

Consulting Skills: A Study Guide

Short Answer Quiz

1. According to the author, why does the concept of consulting apply to nearly everyone, even those who don't work as consultants?

2. What are the key challenges that consultants face, as highlighted in the article?

3. What does the article mean by the idea that a consultant is like a "bio-hacker," and why is this important?

4. What similarities are drawn between a professional athlete and a consultant?

5. Why is continuous learning and preparation so critical to a consultant's success?

6. What is meant by the statement that a consultant is "all of these and more," when describing the multiple roles they embody?

7. What is the author's point about the importance of influence rather than formal authority for consultants?

8. According to the article, what blend of skills sets a successful consultant apart?

9. What is the article's primary message about the risk of burnout in the consulting profession?

10. Why does the article suggest consultants need to be adept at prioritization and continuous growth?

Answer Key for Quiz

1. The author argues that the principles of consulting apply broadly because most people interact with others, need to influence decisions, and must continuously learn. The author suggests that if you do these things you are a consultant.

2. Key challenges for consultants include solving complex problems, managing tight deadlines, dealing with high client expectations, adapting to unclear situations, and often feeling pressure to always be "on."

3. A consultant as a "bio-hacker" means they must prioritize their physical and mental health to handle the demanding nature of their work, ensuring they can maintain their performance. They must find systems of self care to ensure they are at peak performance.

4. Both professional athletes and consultants require a dedication to consistent practice, self-improvement, and performing well under pressure to achieve success. They both need discipline and the dedication to hone their skills.

5. Continuous learning is vital as it ensures consultants are prepared to deliver results, stay current with industry trends, and refine their expertise to meet the demands of their clients. Preparation creates excellent execution.

6. The phrase means that consultants must be skilled in multiple areas, including being a spokesperson, technical expert, salesperson, and support specialist. They must be multi-faceted to be successful.

7. The author states that influence, through words, ideas, and persuasion, is more critical for consultants than formal authority since they often lack that direct power. They must be able to use soft power.

8. A successful consultant is defined by a combination of technical expertise, strategic vision, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, and communication skills. They need to be a whole package.

9. The article stresses that consultants face high risk of burnout due to tight deadlines, long hours, high expectations, and the pressure of managing multiple complex projects and that they must take care of themselves.

10. Consultants must master prioritization and continuous growth because their time and resources are limited, requiring them to choose where to focus for improvement and to continuously develop their abilities.

Essay Questions

1. Discuss the parallels the author draws between the roles of a consultant and a professional athlete. How do these comparisons help us understand the demands and necessary mindset for success in consulting?

2. Analyze the concept of “bio-hacking” as it relates to consulting, and argue whether the author’s view on this is convincing.

3. Explore the challenges and risks of burnout in consulting, as described in the article. What are the main contributing factors, and what strategies might consultants use to mitigate them?

4. Critically evaluate the author's assertion that the skills of a consultant apply to everyone. What evidence is provided to support this claim and how accurate do you find the application to be?

5. How does the article describe the role of influence in consulting versus formal authority? What do you think is the significance of soft power when working as a consultant?

Glossary of Key Terms

• Consultant: A professional who provides expert advice and solutions to clients to help them solve specific problems or improve their business practices.

• Analytical Skills: The ability to analyze problems to identify underlying causes and formulate data-driven solutions.

• Critical Thinking: The ability to evaluate information objectively to make informed judgements or choices; also included is the ability to formulate informed opinions.

• Adaptability: The ability to adjust quickly to changing circumstances, priorities, and ambiguous situations.

• Interpersonal Skills: The ability to communicate effectively and build strong working relationships with others.

• Strategic Vision: The ability to understand the big picture, anticipate future trends, and formulate long-term plans.

• Emotional Intelligence: The ability to understand and manage one's own emotions as well as those of others.

• Burnout: A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress.

• Bio-Hacking: The practice of using scientific methods and self-experimentation to optimize one's physical and mental health.

• Prioritization: The ability to assess tasks and opportunities and determine which are most important and urgent for focus.

• Continuous Learning: The commitment to regularly seek new information, skills, and perspectives for improvement.

• Influence: The capacity to affect someone's character, development, or behavior using soft power rather than official authority.