How can you demonstrate your teamwork skills in Consulting?

Always start with the Why. Work back from your goal. The objectives will define parameters and paths, and the right fit of individual and team effort. Most projects and goals are wider than us, or we aim for sustained impact and speed beyond what is possible alone. Teams are usually greater than their component parts, but they need to be structured correctly. Each person must know their role, which differs based on the goal, and who has the best fit of skills. Matching the problem with the assets of the team. Making for dynamic and varied work, as we constitute and reconstitute each time.

One of the significant perceptions that act as a deterrent for companies/critical employees in the company to have a feeling of "our team" and "our side" for an external consultant is the fear/ strong view that consultants are generalists and do not understand the nuances of the business. We follow a process called the first principle-led Discovery stage. In this phase, we assume that "we know nothing about the business" and spend hours with stakeholders using the BEI technique with open-ended questions. This helps us understand the organisation and culture and sow the seeds of trust among the clients. It also helps to question and think, "why do they need us to solve this problem"?

Alright, picture this... You're in the hot seat and they want to know if you play well with others. This is how you're gonna nail the question. Don’t just say you’re a team player SHOW IT! Tell them about that time you organized the team structure and how you juggled tasks, but also stepped back when Sarah had the better plan for the project. • In projects, be the glue. • Got a shy teammate? Ask for their input. • Someone's idea not getting heard? Amplify it. And when there's a win, shine the spotlight on the team’s effort, not just your own slam dunk. (stole this from some of the best leaders I've had) Remember these tips and you'll pass with flying colors.

We sometimes make the mistake that complex is more impressive. But simple is always more powerful. Communicating briefly and concisely actually takes longer and more effort than lengthy but unclear messages. The simpler the words, the more powerful the meaning. The shorter and more concise, the more powerful and the more you will cut through and be remembered. Always speak plainly and directly, so people understand. Confused clients don't buy. Take the time to rework and sharpen your communication - edit, remove fluff, complexity, extra words, too many concepts in one message. And see the power of your messaging grow.

When discussing teamwork skills in a consulting context, you could provide specific examples of projects where you collaborated with colleagues. Talk about your role in the team, how you communicated ideas, resolved conflicts, and contributed to achieving project goals. Emphasize instances where your teamwork enhanced overall project outcomes or client satisfaction. This demonstrates not only your ability to work with others but also your impact on the collective success of the team.

One of the toughest things to do is to realize what we “know” may not always be the best answer. There are times that we have done something so many times, we think we know what is the right way to do it. It's important to listen to the alternatives and evaluate whether what we “know” is actually the best way or not. I believe if there are two ways to get the same goal with similar cost/effort, we should always give the priority to the way the resource working on the task is more comfortable with.

Your team needs to be your ride or die. On day 2 of my first job (at Analysis Group in Boston), I had wrapped up my work at 6 pm and was heading out when I saw two colleagues huddled over a machine. I asked them if there was anything I could help with and they responded with "nah, we will take care of it." I insisted that if they had to stay late, I could help them stay less late. I ended up being given the task of accurately drawing a dotted red line on dozens of exhibits. Instead of drawing the line manually, I figured out a formulaic way to derive where the line needs to be on each chart. It took 2 hours of my time, but I probably saved each of them at least an hour, and other colleagues numerous hours in audits and adjustments.

Teamwork is the heart of great consulting. To show you're a team player, start with clear communication: talk plainly and listen well. Be flexible, willing to take on different tasks. Use your skills to help the team and appreciate your teammates' skills too. Always finish your work on time and do it well. Offer a hand to your team when they need it. By tackling challenges together and celebrating wins as a group, you prove your strength in teamwork. These steps help achieve shared success.

The biggest mistakes we make sometimes is not what we do, but what we don't do. The ability to see things in different ways is a must when working with a team. People management is a significant part of a consultant’s job. Lacking the skills to work with diverse teams is a problem that will hinder success. If you're not able to step out of your way of thinking, and take risks by doing things differently, you isolate yourself from learning and growing by doing. Consultants who foster teamwork are better poised to delegate task, and create a atmosphere where everyone is accountable in achieving successful business outcomes.

In technology projects, a consultant becomes the key part of a dynamic team. The requirements of the clients, the data provided may change. You may face limitations of the software or the technology of the software may evolve or change during the project. Considering these aspects, you need to take initiative, adapt your role and/or limits, change your model to become a problem-solver.

Flexibility: Business environments are dynamic, and client needs can change. A team is often more adaptable to shifting priorities and requirements, ensuring that the consulting firm can respond effectively to evolving client needs.

Flexibility is vital in handling the changing and evolving of the complex consulting world because unpredictability and uncertainty are familiar. Hence, the capacity of adaptability for swift adjustments to emerging challenges and keeping a positive attitude is the cornerstone of the consulting team's success. Consultants must be agile and responsive in the face of setbacks, inspire the team to keep them motivated to foster creativity, even in the worst scenarios, and even be keen to extend positivity to clients to develop trust during difficulties.

A culture of constructive feedback is crucial for the success of any consulting team. Considering the extensive time spent together on projects, implementing regular and open retrospectives is vital. This practice allows the team to assess collective emotions, pinpoint areas for improvement, and enhance overall performance. Additionally, providing individual feedback to team members is instrumental in skill development. It also facilitates the establishment of mentor-mentee relationships that can extend beyond the project's duration. This approach not only fosters continuous improvement but also contributes to a supportive and collaborative team environment.

Regular retrospectives are invaluable for gaining insights, learning from issues and developing best practice. Small and frequent feedback fosters continual, incremental development.

Hard times are part of team work. Do not fear them! Make your feedback, accept feedback, set new rules, and begin a new cycle.

Just remember, if you are a true member of the team: - No task is beneath you: be willing to do whatever it takes to help the team, even if its drawing red lines on exhibits; and - No challenge is above you: To be a part of the team is to be willing to push yourself beyond your comfort level to achieve what the team needs from you.

Actively listen and integrate others’ perspectives to build collaborative solutions. Take on different roles within teams, showing flexibility and a willingness to both lead and follow. Communicate effectively, ensuring ideas and plans are clearly articulated and understood. Show commitment by meeting deadlines and supporting others in their tasks. Encourage an inclusive environment where all contributions are valued. Use conflict resolution skills to navigate differences and maintain team harmony. Share credit for successes, and when faced with setbacks, focus on learning and improvement collectively. Document and share team achievements to highlight the collective effort in successful outcomes.

I generally approach the team with the mindset of how I can enable everyone else to be successful. This means asking questions of colleagues to help define their success and make decisions that incorporate individual goals into the team goals but ultimately it makes for a more successful collaboration is we are all collectively invested in each other. This doesn’t mean catering to whims but organizing towards team success while still holding client impact as the macro goal of our work.