How can you keep your problem analysis skills sharp in consulting?

Engaging in relevant case studies and simulations relevant to your field help a lot. Collaborate with colleagues and experts’ sayings from diverse backgrounds to gain fresh perspectives and insights. Stay vigilant about industry trends, keeping abreast of emerging technologies and regulatory shifts. Pursue continuous learning through workshops, meetups, seminars, and training sessions focused on problem analysis and consulting methodologies. Apply established frameworks like SWOT and PESTLE and Porters five forces analyses to dissect complex issues. Applying such an iterative approach, coupled with a commitment and discipline to ongoing practice and industry awareness, will be instrumental in maintaining your sharp problem analysis skills.

Prepare your own cases/ case studies for each project done - even if not to be used by the company officially. Be honest in writing these cases - inlcude successes and failures, learnings and mistakes - all.

We all stand on the shoulders of those before us. The best have always learned and modelled those around them. Cherish exposure to those more experienced, and seek out different skillsets and perspectives. Seek out mentors and coaches, and be focused on continuously sharpening your saw. Very few of us are so expert we can't learn and grow from others, but we must be open to learn. To listen before judging or comparing, to resist the comparison and ego game. The very best have coaches, and are dedicated to their craft. We should be similarly committed to growing and getting better. So we too can stand on the shoulders of our those who went ahead.

An example I've seen is keeping an open mind about everyone on the team; we all have something to learn and therefore something to teach others!

A valuable perspective to consider is that using reverse case studies can be an effective approach to hone your problem analysis skills in consulting. Instead of following the traditional path of analyzing the case from start to finish, begin with the solution and work backward. This unconventional method encourages consultants to think innovatively, considering multiple problem-solving routes and understanding the implications of different choices. By tackling reverse case studies, you can develop a deeper understanding of the problem-solving process and enhance your analytical prowess.

Keep visiting the websites of big consultancy firms - they create cases and help resolution etc. Most of these are real or realistic, so a great learning. Many may be current also.

A valuable piece of advice is to explore interdisciplinary problem-solving approaches. While traditional consulting often relies on sector-specific tools and techniques, borrowing problem-solving methods from other disciplines can inject fresh perspectives into your analysis. For instance, consider incorporating design thinking principles or elements of behavioral economics into your problem analysis toolkit. This cross-pollination of ideas can help you see problems from different angles and lead to innovative and effective solutions.

We are only as sharp as our tools, and sharpening and adding to your toolkit is a constant process. Our clients expect us to add value, and to add new fresh perspectives, and bring the best tools to bear. So we need to always be adding to our repertoire, by ... - Reading Widely - Observing & Learning - Joining Support Networks - Seeking our new ideas & perspectives - And maintaining a positive growth mindset

Bringing fresh insights to light, think about actively engaging in pro bono consulting work for non-profit organizations or social causes. This unique avenue not only allows you to contribute to meaningful initiatives but also challenges your problem analysis skills in diverse and often resource-constrained environments. For example, offering your consulting expertise to a local charity or environmental organization can lead to encounters with complex problems you might not encounter in corporate consulting. It's a fulfilling way to sharpen your skills while making a positive impact.

By deliberately seeking out more varied and complex projects, you broaden your exposure to different types of problems and identify new solutions. We mostly learn by doing and pushing the limits of our creativity and understanding.

One way that I have found very helpful in keeping problem analysis skills sharp is to focus on building critical thinking. A skilled critical thinker objectively analyzes a situation from a balanced perspective. In finance consulting, clients rely on you to evaluate and advise on a various scenarios, and a poorly thought-out decision can cost the client and you time and money. The ability to make unbiased, critically-informed choices is crucial for consultants. Developing critical thinking skills improves your problem solving skills, and gives you a methodology to tackle complex problems, as well as a built-in mental process you consistently use to approach problems.

A key takeaway to remember is the importance of engaging in cross-functional teams and multidisciplinary projects. Collaborating with experts from various fields not only broadens your problem-solving perspectives but also exposes you to a wide array of analytical approaches. For instance, working on a project that involves professionals from engineering, marketing, and finance can open up new angles for problem analysis, allowing you to draw from their expertise and apply it to your consulting toolkit.