To Be or Not To Be A Management
Consultant:
Why you might not want to be a management consultant• Because of the stigma. "Management consultants borrow your watch to tell you the time". Definition of an expert " X " unknown quantity, Spert " a drip under pressure" Very funny.
• Because you might not get the chance to consult at all. Management consultancy is a big generic label. You might be placed to fact-find only, to implement only, to satisfy a political brief where the answer is pre-determined.
• Because consultants are advisers. It may not suit your character. Advice can be very subtle with no kudos to the giver. You may want direct control, consultants work through others.
• Because a proper management consultancy assignment is very hard work. Situations have to be assessed real fast, people have to be weighed up real fast and emotions put to one side, objectivity is all. Time pressure is extreme. Not everyone is cut out for this .
• Because domestic/social life can go up in smoke, the lifestyle may be unacceptable
