What a Consultant at ADAPTOVATE Wishes They Knew Before Consulting
Lucca wishes someone had told them that consulting is often "pretty messy" with inconsistent direction and information from clients, adding that it's a consultant's job to "create clarity out of ambiguity" by advising clients, even when it means pushing back on shifting directions. While frustrating at times, flexibility and the ability to change direction are crucial skills to develop.
Consulting, Adaptability, Client Management, Problem-Solving, Communication
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Lucca Polacci
Consultant
ADAPTOVATE
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Business Management & Admin, Political Science, American Studies
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Business Strategy
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Consulting is often messy; clients may not always provide perfect data, information, or consistent direction, requiring flexibility and adaptability.
2. A consultant's role is to create clarity out of ambiguity, which can be uncomfortable early in one's career but is a crucial skill to develop.
3. It's important to advise clients and act as a trusted advisor, sometimes pushing back on changes in direction even when it feels challenging.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
One thing I've learned about this role that I wish someone had told me is that consulting is often pretty messy. Clients don't always provide the documents or information you need, whether it's perfect data sets or consistent direction.
I've often experienced changing direction on a weekly basis. This can be frustrating because you might build out a great deck outlining a new approach, only for the client the following week to say they're shifting gears.
Ultimately, the job of a consultant is to create clarity out of ambiguity. Earlier in my career, this felt uncomfortable because I wanted to simply deliver against what the client said, focusing on outputs.
However, in certain instances, you need to advise the client and say, "Hey, we shouldn't shift directions here." It's your job to be a trusted advisor, which is hard to do early in your career. As you become more comfortable with clients, it's a skill you learn.
Even after learning these skills, things can still change at the drop of a hat. Just be prepared to be flexible and change direction when needed.