Greetings #ConfidentConsultant's what are the top 3-5 characteristics you believe make a good Salesforce Consultant? Below is a quote from one of my favorite professors, on what he thinks makes a good consultant, does it resonate with you?
“Just as a hit television show is a cocktail of production values and storytelling, a good consultant brings the peanut butter and chocolate of data-driven insight and storytelling together. The ideas and data are nothing unless you can articulate them in a compelling manner.” Scott Galloway, Professor-NYU Stern
Looking forward to reading your observations.
Hi @Ron Budreau
My take at the top seven characteristics of a good consultant
1. Be a safe pair of hands - do what you said you were going to do, and do it when you said you were going to do it.
2. Attention to detail - Document who you spoke with, what you heard, how you interpreted what you heard, and based on what you heard, what you recommendation and why. If you build a solution, test it to ensure it works.
3. Be considered a go to Thought Leader - Build a focus on one industry and solution set. Go deep versus be a jack of all trades.
4. Make sure that you Solve the right problem - Find out the root cause of a customer problem, where their pain is, and how much is is worth to them personally and their business to solve for that pain.
5. Challenge the Status Quo - Do not be an order taker. Respectfully challenge the customer - especially when they try a make the new solution in the image of the old solution that is not working!
6. Be Resourceful - know where to go for help if you do not have all the answers. Remember it is Ok to say it depends, and call a team member or another consultant. It is unlikely you will know how to solve all problems.
7. Ask Good Open Questions. Do not be afraid to ask for clarification. I often use the seven Why's! It is better to ask questions up front, than do something wrong. Always ask "What question should I have asked?", and always ask for feedback along the consulting journey, as feedback is a gift.
