Claim OwnershipThe Candid Consultant
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© Aaron Mohammed
Description
Learn technology and management consulting insights from seasoned digital product + transformation leader Aaron Mohammed, based out of Toronto, Canada. *All opinions shared are not affiliated to any organization or company.
29 Episodes
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Not every corporation works with consultancies the same. For some, consultants are just the "paid help". And others, it's collaborative, transparent, and fun. If you're considering consulting as a career, don't be discouraged if you're not invited to their pizza party.
Thinking about taking that long lunch with your friend Suzy? Be prepared for plans to change, because that pushy client of yours may alter your plans.
Ah, the dreaded "hand-off" between the sales and delivery teams. It is prime for exploitation and chaos in consulting, so tune in to hear how you can minimize the fence between both teams to prosper in your engagements.
COVID-19 affected everything (and this is not an exaggeration). Tune in to learn how COVID-19 impacted some of the consulting world, and how recovery is shaping today. Note, this conversation is ever-evolving and is certainly not the same for all firms worldwide.
Think the consulting travel life looks glamorous? Well, listen-in to see the behind-the-scenes before you join a travel-heavy firm. (Of course, COVID-19 has impacted some of this, which we may discuss in another episode!)
In this last episode of the leadership mini series, learn how admitting fault as a leader credentializes your ability to be human, and allows further openness and feedback from individuals/teams that work with you.
In this episode, as part of a mini series, understand why emotional intelligence (EQ) is such an important aspect to incorporate into a leadership style, with anecdotal evidence that the higher the EQ, the better the leader.
In this episode, as part of a mini series, understand the process of garnering holistic leadership feedback, both solicited and unsolicited, and why continual feedback is important from career inception to retirement to achieve a balanced perspective.
In this episode, as part of a mini series, explore the concept of a leader's door being "open" (physically or not), but is actually closed. A hardened culture of employee discomfort and apprehension hinders anyone from approaching leaders, despite their internal view of openness.
Consulting firms are occasionally brought in to be the impartial, rationale voice when internal politics arise. Navigating the various personalities and client hierarchy is a challenge for anyone, and more so for less-experienced consultants. Listen to hear some core tips on making it through the client war unscathed.
A high degree of ambiguity can be exhausting for newer consultants, especially when a problem is not well-defined. But ambiguity and unknowns are not going away - and often the primary reason the consultant is there - to cut through all the "noise" and come to a concrete conclusion/output. The faster you get comfortable with not knowing answers, and how to effectively get them, the easier it will be day-to-day.
And we're back for 2023! Tune in weekly (again) for more insights and tips into the technology and management consulting field. In this week's episode, find out how introverted-type traits can both hinder and propel your consulting career, and how achieving balance is key.
As a client-facing consultant, you want to captivate your audience and draw them into your work. Think how Disney and Steve Jobs accomplishes this task. In this episode, we focus on the oral aspect of storytelling / presentations, and how you can even get better.
Having the job title "Consultant" does not always mean you're a Consultant, which the latter takes a unique skillset layered onto expertise. Do not be fooled by industry positions labelling to be more lucrative; these roles often have a fraction of the responsibilities of more autonomous consultant-level roles in firms.
Uniquely in consulting, at every level (from Associate to Managing Partner), there is an infinite amount of work. Learn why the responsibilities for consultants mean the never-ending mountain of tasks is there to move as fast or slow as you wish in your consulting journey.
In this episode, learn what "staff augmentation" (also known as "staff aug") is and how it relates to the world of consulting. It is also contrasted to more traditional forms of management or technology consulting.
In this episode, learn about one of the most critical consulting "tools" that you apply early as a Consultant, but become a master of once you move towards consulting leadership positions. Using a refined skill of assumption-crafting can help you set expectations / align parties and give confidence on a future outcome.
In this episode, we explore the fundamental mindset of partnering with your client with a shared vision and goals. In doing so, you'll move upward faster and with greater satisfaction in the work you accomplish.
No one's perfect, and it's important we share and celebrate (and especially grow from) our missteps in all career journeys. In this episode, the host (Aaron Mohammed) shares high-level details of a bumpy past project, showing every journey has its challenges.
Now that you understand the concept of "utilization" from Episode 008, learn two main methods of ensuring you meet or surpass or utilization targets to indicate your strong performance. While this applies to mostly delivery-focused Consultants, many levels -- including leadership -- often have targets.
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