Week 6

Last week’s business consultancy lecture was different and special because we got to know our client Odyssey Arts, so we had our Project Kick-Off. In the beginning, our future customer started with a brief introduction of the company and afterwards, we were able to ask questions. Personally, I immediately understood, why we learned about questioning techniques and the importance of identifying the problem, or as we defined it in one of the previous sessions, the gap between where the client is right now and where he should be. Particularly at the start, I had the feeling, that our questions did not bring us the answers we expected and needed, which was caused by us not using the right questioning techniques respectively asking the wrong questions. But the more questions were asked, the better and more concrete they got, and, in the end, I felt like we were able to address the costumers needs, wishes and expectations. 

In our seminar, at first, we presented our possible strategies (including the ideas in the background and the expected results) for Woofies, which were worked out in our groups the seminar before. Our solution approach/proposal was, to expand into the cat food market, which we underlined by the numerous advantages, which outweigh the disadvantages, a profitability calculation and furthermore, we also brought in our expanded Stakeholder Solution template.  

This week it was also suggested to watch three educational videos. The titles of the videos were “10 skills you need to be a consultant”, “Differences between strategy consulting and management consulting” and “Speak like a leader | Simon Lancaster | TEDxVerona”, which all offered interesting and instructive content.  

But what are the mentioned 10 skills you need to be a consultant? According to the video, the following abilities are indispensable if you are willing to successfully climb the career ladder in consulting: 

• Time management (short and long time)
• Flexibility 
• Communication (written and verbal – also on the phone)
• Commercial awareness
• Analytical skills
• Organization
• Being a Team player
• Social skills
• Creative thinking
• Self-care

As I already mentioned in a previous blog of mine, I have an acquaintance who works in management consulting and he once told me, that about 80 – 90 % of his job consists of communication, therefore he said that the most precious attribute a consultant can have are good communication skills. He now is in a leading position, where he is responsible not only for one but for up to 4 projects at the same time and in his opinion, communication skills are so important, that he even puts most of his focus on this skill when working on the staff planning – even more than he takes into consideration knowledge (e.g. out of previous projects). For me also “being a team player” and “social skills” goes hand in hand with good communication, which really shows us the importance of this ability. About this topic we even watched a whole second video called “speaking like a leader” in which we learned more about different rhetorical techniques etc.  

With certainty, it is also important not to forget about the last skill – Self-care. Especially when working in consulting, which for sure can be a demanding job at some points because of factors like tight deadlines, working long hours on a regular base and many others, it is important to give your body time to rest – physically and mentally. But in general, I would say that lots of the previously mentioned skills nowadays are not only important when working in consulting, but in most of today’s professions. 

To briefly summarize this week’s business consultancy session, I definitely was able to take something with me out of the seminar and speaking for me personally, I can say that I am excited about the project with our client because I think it will be a valuable experience, to apply the acquired theoretical knowledge in practice. According to my experience out of my education and internships so far, practice work burns into one’s memory much more, than the best theoretical sessions. 

Picture Source:www.air-worldwide.com/Consulting-Services/Consulting-ServicesOverview/ [05/11/2019, 9 pm]