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On Training to be a Consultant

Can you train to be a Consultant?

I suppose the answer is Yes and No.

Fundamental personality traits are difficult to change. If you are an introvert and don't enjoy mixing with people, feel tongue-tied in a crowd or prefer stability and predictability, its difficult to change. But give me a guy with a good attitude, a dash of humility, a love for written and verbal expression, a desire to learn something new everyday and a hunger to catalyze change - well, that would be enough.

Methodology

Consulting ability cannot stand alone - it does need the help of a 'way of working', a methodology. Talking about a methodology gives a client a sense of assurance that the consultant has taken the time to leverage his experience and create a definitive, reasonably predictable system that has a good chance of delivering results. Of course, every engagement is different and should be approached as such.

Its useful for marketing, conveying a sense of uniformity of purpose and actually helps build a culture within the consulting group.

What are your thoughts?

More comments received on Consultant Qualities

I received this via email.

1. the ability to influence without position power
2. be able to advise people within a client system that you are only recently familiar with, based on your knowledge of industry and organizations, beyond your domain area
3. not just comfort with change but also understanding the process and dynamics of change
4. also skills of seeking commitment and moving towards closure

Comments?