No matter how many frameworks, reference sheets, or strategy models you have up your sleeve, good consulting always comes down to analytical skills. What matters is whether you can effectively deconstruct and categorize information, identify new correlations, and draw conclusions from all of this. Strategic thinking is a unique combination of a conceptual understanding of a business situation and an understanding of its practical applications. Consultants must have an extraordinary perspective at all levels of strategy, from the most abstract and visionary ideas to the daily routine.
Join more than 19,000 consultants and keep up to date with our top consultant resources. When working on a consulting project, you'll want to be flexible. You can agree on a schedule weeks or months in advance, thinking it's immovable. But things happen; your customer's needs change, so you'll want to be prepared.
Join more than 150,000 business and human resource leaders and keep up to date with our top resources. One of the core skills of a management consultant is analytical thinking. This means being able to break down a problem into its components, identify root causes, and generate solutions. Analytical thinking also involves using data, logic, and frameworks to support your arguments and recommendations.
To develop your analytical thinking skills, you can practice solving case studies, using tools such as Excel and PowerPoint, and reading books and articles on business topics. When I talk to young people who want to dedicate themselves to consulting, the first piece of advice I give them is the following: it's not about what they studied, but about how they think. Part of that is how you think about communication. The consultants have added some great points: listening and telling stories are vital.
However, as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it's also vital to start learning intercultural communication skills. A third essential skill of a management consultant is leadership skills. This means being able to inspire, motivate, and guide others, both within your team and with your customers. Leadership skills also involve setting objectives, delegating tasks, managing conflicts, and giving and receiving feedback.
To develop your leadership skills, you can take on more responsibilities, volunteer for challenging projects, and seek opportunities to guide and train others. We ranked the main skills of business consultants based on the percentage of resumes in which they appeared. When it comes to consulting skills, we're referring to consultants that you admire, respect, and who inspire you. Read on to discover what skills a business consultant needs to succeed in the workplace.
One of the best ways to learn the skills needed to be a business consultant is to take online courses to advance your career, such as those offered by Udemy and Coursera. If you want your consulting business to be successful, you must master the important skill of delegating.
