In a competitive and dynamic business, e challenges always exist. Some of these challenges are of high magnitude and require external intervention to resolve, despite having a qualified workforce. In such cases, a specialized task force is known as Consultants normally provides these interventions. Let’s know about the Qualities of a Consultant.
Consultants provide expert professional advice to clients in their area of expertise. They perform certain complex activities related to their line of work. Almost all professions have this category of specialists who have a keen eye for details and ability that surpasses the average worker. The following are some of the essential attributes that they should possess.
Qualities of a Consultant
Competent
He has adequate knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform his work. He possesses appropriate qualifications, attributes, and experience. He understands his sector, industry, and business environment well. He knows other stakeholders in his area of specialization. He is conversant with the relevant legislations and ethics related to his field of work or expertise.
Reliable
He is dependable and other people can count on him to meet his obligations. He is available and easily accessible when needed. He honors commitments and delivers timely results. He is effective and efficient while performing his duties to gain trust from stakeholders. This gives him a positive reputation in his sector, industry and business environment. In addition, it improves his popularity, personal brand, and profitability. This enhances his strategic position in the business environment.
Analytical
He pays attention to details and is keen on processes. He employs logical reasoning in decision-making and when taking actions. He remains methodical while performing his duties to gather appropriate information and detect flaws. He works with several alternatives and develops contingency plans for every situation. He collects and reviews all facts before concluding so that his course of action remains reliable. He makes decisions and takes actions with utmost precision and purpose. This requires excellent research skills for obtaining information.
Intuitive
He is capable of interpreting his surroundings even when tangible information is not available. He can empathize with other people around him. He identifies and seeks understanding about the feelings, emotions, and behavior of people around him. He uses previous experience to identify relevant factors that other people would not ordinarily perceive. This requires paying extreme attention to the surroundings and stakeholders. It requires anticipation of the next course of action that may arise from other sources.
Confident
He displays power and authority while interacting with other people. He speaks and acts with utmost certainty and faith while performing his duties. This makes other people want to associate with him since he can demonstrate that he is secure, stable, and focused. This builds trust with stakeholders and improves his public image, which is necessary for gaining a competitive advantage. Confidence helps to establish influence in the business environment. This gives him substantial control over decisions, actions, and events.
Confidential
He does not share private and restricted information. He recognizes authorization and access levels in every business environment. He observes protocols and hierarchy while relating with stakeholders and sharing information with other people. He does not reveal sensitive information and plans to unauthorized people and entities. He is trusted with decisions and actions, which he is privy. He avoids breaching contracts and agreements.
Integrity
He is trustworthy and honest. He adheres to professional and moral ethics. He upholds law and order. He follows rules and regulations. He implements approved policies and procedures. He nurtures a positive public image in the business environment. He remains compliant while performing his duties. He maintains industry standards and guidelines in his practice.
Accountable
He is aware of his obligations and responsibilities. He meets the expectations of stakeholders while performing his duties. He remains at the forefront in the development and execution of agreed-upon plans. He spearheads operations and purposeful activities to meet a given objective. He is liable for his decisions and actions. This makes him manage risks more appropriately and develop better solutions.
Transparent
He practices open communication and information sharing. He explains his decisions and actions to stakeholders to develop trust and gain loyalty. He does not withhold information for the common good. He permits scrutiny of his operations and activities when the need arises. He ensures that his policies and procedures are widely understood by relevant stakeholders. He does not engage in illegal activities and practices that would compromise his integrity.
Disciplined
He practices effective and efficient resource management. He manages all resources at his disposal well in order to achieve set goals. He does not misuse or misappropriate resources at his disposal. He plans and executes his decisions and actions in the prescribed manner. He remains within the confines of standards and guidelines. He respects codes of conduct related to business activities and operations. He is committed to the course of action and avoids distractions.
Decisive
He makes decisions quickly and effectively. He is swift in gathering adequate information to avoid delays in decision-making. He can prioritize the alternatives for a particular issue and select the best option that will resolve a situation. He identifies issues that need urgent attention and defers for a little while those that are not as important. He can give justifications for preference concerning a certain decision or action over another. He employs both intuition and analytical skills in order to arrive at the appropriate solution.
Resourceful
He has a wide range of solutions to issues in his specialization area. Appropriate training and years of experience allow him to be resourceful. He knows several ways of approaching a single issue to arrive at the best solution. He has a wide network of competent people to assist him with challenges when they arise. He is aware of the various private and public resources available in his environment should he need them at a particular time. He has acquired a variety of skills to be versatile in his industry.
Flexible
He is capable of adjusting to his business environment when the need arises. He can change his decisions and actions if it is prudent and viable. He is capable of improvising methods and techniques when the original idea is not working. He can accommodate changes in his schedule when requested to do so by stakeholders. He adapts to the changing environment and its demands while remaining focused and productive. He can cope with the dynamic challenges of the business environment. Changes and challenges come from all sources whether internal or external to the organization. He is prepared at all times for any new developments in his environment.
Focused
He remains committed to his decisions and actions. He does not make frequent changes as it destabilizes stakeholders. He avoids unnecessary distractions that will cost him valuable resources such as time and money. It is easy to get sidetracked while performing official duties. The diversions may be personal or professional and he must find ways of controlling them. This will reduce the impact they have on his work performance. He completes tasks within the agreed period and accomplishes all plans in the prescribed manner.
Organized
He is orderly and sequential. His decisions and actions are purposeful and systematically developed. He develops plans for almost everything he intends to embark on. He is orderly with documentation, resources and processes. He develops and adheres to structures and systems that enhance operations, activities and performance. He breaks down plans into simple tasks in order to improve success and completion levels. He has proper policies and procedures for performing duties.
Formal
He conducts his professional activities in a formalized manner. He follows protocols related to a given environment. He adheres to an appropriate dress code for a given set-up or event. He uses professional language and tone when conversing with employees, stakeholders and members of the public. He observes timelines and he tries to be punctual for all his appointments and meetings. He respects everyone he interacts with and values the information they relay. He ensures policies and procedures are adhered to in any environment he is found in. His official documentation and presentation are prepared with care and precision. He tries to ensure that his messages are appropriate and relevant all the time. He can manage his own emotions and behavior even in provoking and offensive situations.
Conclusion
Consultants exist in practically all professions, industries, sectors and business environments. Some of the specialization areas include human resources, information technology, administration, legal, security, engineering, medicine, and research, just to mention a few. Consultants are specialized workers whose focus is on one area of operations. They have a thorough understanding of their field and industry. This gives them a competitive advantage over other employees. When organizations, large or small, are experiencing challenges that cannot be resolved by their internal teams, they seek consultants. Due to the vast knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience they possess, they resolve highly complex and technical issues in the shortest time possible with minimal risks. They operate independently or can be part of an agency that offers advisory services. To be successful in this role, one must possess or nurture essential qualities.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is a Consultant?
This is a professional specializing in a specific area of expertise or field.
- What are some roles of a Consultant?
They are Advisors, Mediators, Facilitators, Planners, and Investigators.
