Skills and Tools
Management consultants wrestle with messy problems – ambiguous, uncertain, cross-functional, politically charged, and data-poor.
- Thinking about complex problems
- Using top-tier MBAs frameworks
- Telling stories executives understand
- Using best practices (or being lazy?)
- Being “so good they can’t ignore you”
- Learning how to (continuously) learn
Consulting Pyramid
Consulting is an elite profession. They choose the best (among the best). Case interviews are difficult, yet fun.
So you got the offer. How can you be a “rock star” among folks (honestly) smarter than you? Who is promotable?
What’s next? After consulting, how do I put this experience to good use?
Client Success
Consulting is about client service. We do the (dirty, hard, complex) work and give clients the clarity and confidence to take action.
Sure, strategy + implementation = success. That’s not controversial, but how do you actually do that?
Clients expect more than business robots.
Consulting Tools
Consulting tools help you work smarter and faster. Sign up for a free copy of this 45pg ebook. Tools include DMAIC, SIPOC, Maturity Model, RACI, Gap Analysis, SOW, Client Interviews, Presentation Tips and more.
Strategy
Helping client’s play to their strengths and beat the market
Operations
Smoothing out processes so they are (yawn) boring and lean
People
Getting the right people on the bus and keeping it a great ride
Profits
Keeping an eye on the “right numbers”
Case Interview Prep
No question, this is the first step in a consulting career. Like the Boy Scounts say, “Be Prepared” Link to blog post here.
What Do consultants (REALLY) DO?
Sadly, management consulting is hard to explain to your parents. Perhaps this list of 150+ old blog posts will give them an idea what life is behind all those Delta sky miles and $500+ Briggs and Riley roller bags. Blog post link here.
Saying "Yes" to Clients Can Get you into trouble
We all want to keep clients (and partners) happy, but blindly saying “Yes” can get you into trouble. Blog post link here,
How to Interview Clients (well)
100% of my consulting projects involved client interviews. Some were in boardrooms, while others were in hospital storage closets. Here are some tips for all situations. Blog post link here.
21 Data Visualization tips
Executives want to understand your point of view quickly. Insights have value, data does not. Blog post link here.
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Blog posts on consulting-related skills, tools, frameworks.
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About Me
Strong believer in the consulting process as the most effective way to tackle complex and ambiguous problems – turning data into insights, drawing out consensus, and driving change through pragmatic plans. Fighting complexity with simplicity.
Applying lessons from 20+ years work experience in management consulting, strategic planning, and B2B marketing to the classroom. Creating learning with the 400+ smart and ambitious business school students every year on the topics: Strategy, Healthcare Strategy, Management Consulting, Executive Presence, Storytelling.
- Courses and Videos: Management Consulting (via Coursera and Emory) here
- Book: Consulting Fundamentals (2023) here
- Contact: jkstrategy AT consultantsmind.com
NB: All views expressed here are my own. Do not reflect views of employers, clients, or anyone else.