When we asked Copilot to list the top 10 negative emotions experienced by professional consultants, it returned:
- Stress: Feeling overwhelmed by workload or deadlines.
- Anxiety: Worrying about job performance or future uncertainties.
- Frustration: Encountering obstacles or inefficiencies.
- Burnout: Experiencing exhaustion from prolonged stress.
- Disappointment: Not meeting personal or professional expectations.
- Imposter Syndrome: Doubting one’s abilities or feeling like a fraud.
- Isolation: Feeling disconnected from colleagues or the work environment.
- Resentment: Holding negative feelings towards colleagues or management.
- Boredom: Lack of engagement or interest in tasks.
- Insecurity: Feeling uncertain about job stability or career progression
Would you agree? Do you regularly experience any of these?
Though this article is meant to focus on conquering anxiety, here’s an antidote that applies across the board.
Telling yourself the truth.
Solving Problems and the Importance of Truth
Implementation consultants solve ongoing problems. Every day. These problems can be new or recurring, related to people, processes, or technology.
The solution generally starts with – gathering information, analyzing the problem, and clarifying the requirements. If the information gathered does not match their expectations, they don’t stop until it is clear. Only then do they start solving the problem.
A crucial aspect of the software implementation process is honesty. Clients must tell the truth about their current systems, challenges, and needs. Without this transparency, the information gathered will be flawed, leading to ineffective solutions.
Consultants often don’t dedicate enough time to analyzing and resolving their own challenges. They spend nearly all their time addressing the concerns of clients and colleagues, only managing to fix their own issues in brief moments of downtime.
A successful implementation requires that the client recognizes the need for an improved system, thoroughly evaluates it, and creates a vision of what they truly need. This process requires clients to be truthful about their shortcomings and aspirations. A good consultant will drive conversations to bring this to the fore.
Similarly, a fulfilled consultant must recognize their needs, evaluate their current situation, and paint their vision or goal – that is not dependent on software or client.
Consultants are savvy with critical thinking skills, so why wouldn’t they fix their challenges?
For the same reason, you wouldn’t ask your client to implement a new system on their own.
A consultant may need a coach, just as a client needs a consultant.
Think about it.
Would you agree?
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Please feel free to book a free, impactful call with us to explore how we can tackle your consulting challenges together. www.jenniferstarns.com/schedule
First published on Linkedin – September 11, 2024