Super Consultant

I am often asked by others what they need to do to “get ahead” in their I.T. consulting career. It’s interesting that most I.T. consultants feel that technical competence is the key to unlocking many doors for them and are surprised when they are surpassed by others who aren’t necessarily as technically skilled. I found a great list in a book called Leading Geeks that helps explain the general hierarchy of skill set required to form a superstar consultant.

1. Technical Competence
2. Personal productivity
3. Ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously
4. Ability to describe the business context of technical work
5. Ability to forge compromises between business and technical constraints
6. Ability to manage client relationships
7. Ability to manage technical teams
8. Ability to play positive politics
9. Ability to help expand client relationships
10. Ability to work through others, to make others productive
11. Ability to manage ambiguity
12. Ability to manage time horizons

Glen, Paul. 2003. Leading Geeks. California: Jossey-Bass. 76 p.