Consulting not only prepares you to develop high-level strategy in industry but also trains you in the intricacies of corporate life. Here are the key lessons I’ve learned so far:
Iterate fast
Timeboxing
Avoid stress
Think, then do
Train logical thinking and exposition
Master slide formatting
Excel modelling
Adapt communication for stakeholders
Build relationships with clients
Minimise churn
Prepare for meetings
Be annoyingly resourceful
Balance speed with attention to detail
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Iterate Fast
Communicate early and often with your manager to avoid wasting time spinning your wheels. While you don’t want to appear overly dependent, it’s essential to put thought into your work and validate your direction with your manager or partners.
Timeboxing
Tasks can expand to fill the time available—a phenomenon known as Parkinson’s Law. To avoid this, allocate specific time blocks to tasks. This forces prioritisation and ensures you don’t get stuck in perfectionist loops, particularly with slides or models.
Avoid Stress
Stress often arises from the gap between the problem and the solution. Remember, much of corporate work doesn’t have a single “right” answer; the goal is alignment. Recognising this can help you stay calm under pressure.
Think, Then Do
Approach slide creation as if telling a story to a friend:
- Define the objective of the entire deck.
- Break this into objectives for each slide.
- Write out the titles first to clarify the story structure before filling in the content.
Train Your Logical Thinking and Exposition
Crafting a slide is like writing an expository essay:
- Header: State your point upfront.
- Body: Substantiate your claim below for those who want the details.
- Ensure your slide is MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) to cover all bases logically.
Master Slide Formatting
PowerPoint isn’t about being artistic; it’s about communicating effectively.
Key principles:
- One slide, one message.
- Emphasise key points using darker colours; use grey for less critical elements.
- Align everything—consistent fonts, box sizes, and a restrained colour scheme work wonders.
- Set deadlines for slide content and formatting separately to stay on track. Final formatting can wait until the direction is clear.
Excel Modelling
A good Excel model is intuitive and robust:
- Use tab titles and comments to explain the purpose and source of inputs.
- Colour-code cells: inputs (hard-coded numbers) should stand out and be easily modifiable.
- Design the output first—know what the final slide needs and build towards that.
- Structure your model with driver trees: outputs on the left, inputs on the right.
- Create dedicated tabs for specific purposes.
- Adapt Communication for Stakeholders
Tailor your communication based on your audience
For busy CEOs: Provide a crisp message backed by detailed appendices.
For middle managers: Include detailed analysis to reassure them they can relay your findings confidently.
Build Relationships with Clients
While some client relationships are best left to senior management, building rapport with your counterparts is invaluable.
Start transactional, then grow from there. Help make their lives easier, not harder.
Over time, take an interest in their lives and build a genuine connection. Remember: clients appreciate consultants who are empathetic yet professional.
However, validate critical inputs independently—consultants must present well-reasoned, unbiased conclusions, even when client suggestions seem credible.
Minimise Churn
Churn—redoing work due to unclear expectations—is inevitable but can be reduced by iterating early. Share drafts and seek alignment frequently to avoid wasted effort.
Prepare for Meetings
Know your slides inside out. Anticipate potential questions and rehearse your delivery. Confidence in your material can make a significant impact.
Be prepared for meetings to veer off course, whether due to inconsequential details or formatting concerns. Anticipate these tendencies and adapt accordingly.
Be Annoyingly Resourceful
The responsibility for assigned work stops with you, regardless of challenges. While seeking help is fine when necessary, over-reliance on others for solutions reflects poorly on performance reviews.
Balance Speed with Attention to Detail
Before submitting slides, print them out for review. Viewing them on paper provides a fresh perspective and helps spot mistakes you might overlook on a digital copy.
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Consulting demands both precision and adaptability, and these lessons have been instrumental in helping me navigate the industry effectively.
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