Inner Workings of Consulting
I’ve been working with EmbarkOnIt for about 11 weeks now and have been learning a lot about how consultants work internally. I’m not talking how we interact with one another at EmbarkOnIt; I’m talking about how they tick. What goes on in the mind of a consultant?
Last week I completed and submitted a document to one of our clients. I had double-checked the accuracy, spelling, grammar, and re-read it several times. I wanted it to be perfect. After all, this document was the first submission to this client and it was possibly going to make its way as content on the client’s website.
Now after earning a diploma and a degree, and having managed various client projects through my education, one would think I wouldn’t be so anxious about whether or not the client would like my work. But I was. I kept wondering: “Could I have written it better?” “Was it in the right tone for their customers?” “Did I deliver what they were hoping to receive?”
I ended up on the phone with Mic the next day and was providing an update about the client project and ended up telling her about my concerns. It was then that she let me in on a term that she picked up during her time at McKinsey: Insecure Overachiever. Apparently a characteristic of consultants is that they are constantly wondering if they did a good job; they strive to deliver what the client needs and more and when they do they’re always worried about the results.
I want to produce great work for our clients. Why? Well first of all it’s my job; it’s why I work for EmbarkOnIt. Insecure Overachiever. Off the top of my head the reasons for anyone to be insecure about work done for a client could be: that it has to be good to continue a strong relationship with them, it’s a new job and so I’m striving to prove why I was hired, I want to be known for producing great results quickly, and the better work I do means I’ll get more projects handed to me.
Here’s the thing. Consultants want to do a great job for their clients. Not only is it good for business but lets face it, they wouldn’t be in the industry if they weren’t motivated by success. The success of the client is the success of the consultant. I like to think it’s more than just that though. Consultants don’t just want to see their clients meet objectives; they want to coach them, provide guidance and teach them how to be better. The reasons why I’ve always liked the consulting industry is that a) I’ve always been a fan of strategy and seeing it implemented and b) you get to help people see their business succeed and grow. I think that’s worth a little anxiety. Don’t you?
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