Learn to learn well
The ability to learn in consulting is a superpower. The productivity delta between good and great consultants can be staggering. Those who can learn faster than others will get ahead in this game.
A few weeks ago, I talked to a Harvard Ph.D turned consultant. It was the first time I had spoken to a world-class scientist.
He faced the typical challenges of any new hire: the job expectations were unclear, the learning tools were inadequate, and coaching and mentorship were scarce and sporadic.
He felt stressed, confused, and alone.
But I could see he had a very sharp mind and high motivation. He needed some guidance, the right tools, and information to succeed.
I suggested that he reframe the problem.
I asked him to imagine that consulting is a field he needed to research as a scientist.
The less it’s defined, the more it’s interesting for him.
He quickly grasped the idea. Suddenly, that whole consulting thing didn't look so intimidating.
He also suggested a learning shortcut: using this newsletter as a source for the first hypotheses to test. I had never considered this, but it was a good idea.
Now, he has a solid approach to organizing his learning journey. He defines his development goals and forms hypotheses to address them. Then, he plans the experiments and starts testing which practices work best for him.
After a few weeks, he texted me to report his progress. He seemed much more confident and optimistic and had started gaining good traction with a few partners.
I loved the new reframing.
I realized that this is how I was intuitively learning as a consultant.
I developed specific learning goals and best practices to test.
I tried a few things, journaled what worked and what didn't, and developed a new set of experiments.
Many things I tried had failed, but I knew I needed to try a few times before discarding them.
It almost became my second job besides my main consulting job.
You can't expect to do the work by brute force and become exceptional in this profession. You need an effective learning system that works for you.
So, in essence, you need to
Become a scientist in your development journey.
If you are struggling as an MBB consultant, this is where I can help you.
The consulting journey is complex and treacherous.
Walking it alone is extremely difficult. It’s helpful to have the support of someone experienced (me, wink wink) who has gone through this journey and helped many others.
That is why I developed a coaching program for MBB consultants to help them achieve high performance and become successful.
If you are an MBB consultant and sick of struggling with performance and development, I would like to speak with you.
Book a Free 1-1 Consultation to discuss whether I can help you through my coaching program. There is no commitment, and you can ask any burning questions in a risk-free environment.
Read this post to learn more about the Hero’s Journey coaching program.