7 MUST HAVE QUALITIES OF OUTSTANDING CONSULTANTS, FREELANCERS, AND COACHES

While sharing with a group of Consultants we trained of recent, we made known to them the 7 irrefutable qualities expected of every successful Consultant, and we will share them here with us. Please note that the word ‘Consultant’ in this post is implied to stand for all things Consulting, Freelancers (a newly evolved form of consulting) as well as Coaches (an aspect of consulting known as Personal Consulting). Examples of Personal Consultants include Fitness Trainers, Caregivers, Beauty Specialists, Self-practicing Lawyers, and many more.

Consultants get hired mostly when there is a critical problem to solve by an individual, a brand or an organization, which requires some specialized levels of expertise. So, I will get straight to it. What are the fundamental skills expected of a solid Consultants.

1. NICE TREATS

A Consultant is to his Client, what a Doctor is to his Patient. Have you ever been in situations where you always prefer a particular Doctor attending to you whenever you visit a hospital with more than one Doctor? I can bet you or someone you know must have had this experience. If you take the time to analyze why you prefer such a doctor, it is due most times, to what is known in medical science as ‘bedside manner’, which is what I call Nice Treats. It doesn’t matter if the Doctor is by the bedside with you or at his desk interviewing you for diagnoses, there is just this homely presence you feel around him or her.

You feel that way because the doctor has nice treats. This explains exactly how homely Clients ought to be around a Consultant. Sometimes, the speed of a patient’s recovery is subject to his Physician’s bedside manners. Let it be known also, that in every consulting engagement, you are the Physician and your employer is the patient. Okay?

2. PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC GENIUS

Can you try to imagine what happens when a Physician wrongly diagnoses the medical condition of his patient? That is what happens when a Consultant wrongly diagnoses the problem of his or her employer. Diagnosing wrongly has killed many patients in hospitals untimely and has rendered some others disabled. It is therefore worthy of mention to say that, just as good medical practitioners take the time to interview their patients, and even do lab tests to ensure the right diagnosis, so also must a Consultant take the time to develop a diagnostic genius in delivering solution-focused consulting services.

3. PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

Of course, a Consultant must master the skill of problem-solving in order to stand out. In actual fact, anyone not given to problem-solving has no business consulting. Day in, day out, individuals, brands and business are overwhelmed with problems in form of personal needs such as weight issues, hair loss, financial struggles and corporate troubles such as staff non-productivity, stunted business growth, logistics matters, work overload, and many more, this is where a Consultant comes in as a soothing balm to bring the needed solution. No one values a Consultant who does not produce results. As a consultant, you are paid to solve problems, solve it!

4. DEVELOP EXPERTISE

Being able to do a thing, that is skill. Being able to do it well in ways that generate consistent results, that is expertise! Expertise comes from a combination of education, exposure, experience, and persisting on a skill until specialty is gained. Expertise is one of the most vital qualities of an outstanding Consultant.

5. COMMUNICATION SKILLS

The ability to identify and interpret Clients’ pain-point is super vital to succeeding as a Consultant. This ability to rightly diagnose problems and recommend solutions is a direct product of how much of a good communicator you are as a Consultant. A Consultant must understand that communication is not a one-way affair, you must be sure that you understand what your employer is passing across, and that he understands what you mean as well. This is one best way to avoid friction with clients in the business of consulting.

6. MARKETING SKILLS

No matter how brilliant you are as a Consultant, knowing how to sell yourself and your services is a very fundamental skill to possess. Bearing in mind that Consulting services mostly involve the selling of intangible products, it, therefore, becomes imperative that a Consultant acquire the marketing skills that is relevant to his field of expertise. A Consultant must be able to rightly advertise himself without sounding cheap because if you don’t advertise yourself, no one will know you exist – such a person will be like a great masquerade that dances alone in the dark.

7. MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Just as it is with every other industry, a Consultant must be able to manage people, resources, and systems, else he/she becomes stranded every now and then. Being stranded all the time means you are not far from getting into trouble with yourself and under-performing when much is expected of you. The techniques of planning, budgeting, costing, forecasting, and more must be mastered by everyone that aims for success in the business of consulting. The good news is, these skills can be learnt and can be developed.

Pat and Reallion Samuels are Trainers, Corporate Solutions Consultant and Business Development Experts. They reside in Lagos.