The MECE Muse: 100+ Selected Practices, Unwritten Rules, and Habits of Great Consultants

by Christie Lindor

Overview

"The MECE Muse is a 2018 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner in the Non-Fiction - Business/Finance genre."

Award - Winner in the Business: Careers category of the 2018 International Book Awards

The MECE Muse is a Bronze Winner of the 2017 Wishing Shelf Independent Book Award and a playbook of how you too can become a great world-class business consultant!

Great consultants possess a je ne sais quoi that are equal parts confidence, passion, technical acumen, purpose, and charisma. Great consultants are authentically imperfect; they take life by the reins and forge ahead with certainty no matter how complex a situation is, in an almost effortless way. Great consultants are humble yet make everyone around them step their game up. Great consultants take care of their people. Clients thank good consultants; clients are wowed by great consultants.

Management consultant Christie Lindor has quietly been on a mission to be the mentor she wishes she had earlier in her consulting career. With 15+ years of experience working at top management consulting firms, Christie is now sharing secrets of great consultants in this new consulting business book.

Christie conducted research by connecting with over 50 top consulting partners across 27 consulting organizations on what makes a great consultant, including thought leadership from 8 out of the top 10 consulting firms in the world. The MECE Muse is an insider's guide to consulting, providing invaluable insights and practical knowledge including unwritten rules, career strategies, in addition to interviews from top industry consulting leaders who relate their personal experiences and offer unique perspectives on building and maintaining a successful consulting career.

What you learn from The MECE Muse, an insider's guide to great consulting

• Secrets and stories from 50+ top consulting partners across 27 professional services organizations on how to be a great management consultant
• A historical primer of profession and skills you need for consulting of the future either working for yourself or working at top management consulting firms
• Why being ambitious and working hard is not enough to succeed in consulting
• Top ways you can hurt your personal brand without even realizing it
• How to become a trusted advisor for your clients
• Why you need a consulting career toolkit and how to build one whether you are in management consulting or an independent consultant
• How to create & sustain habits, skills, and experiences to become a great business consultant

Purchase The MECE Muse because it is an insider's guide to consulting, providing you with invaluable insights and practical knowledge including unwritten rules and career strategies on building and maintaining a successful consulting career.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780998673080
Publisher:	SDP Publishing
Publication date:	02/20/2018
Pages:	444
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.10(d)

Table of Contents

Preface: When I Decided to Write This Book, a Teachable

Moment 9

Introduction: Setting the Context on Consulting Basics 15

Section I: The Mindset of Great Consultants 41

1 Make Manners Your Competitive Advantage 45

2 Boost Your Personal Brand as Low Hanging Fruit 61

3 Network to Unlock Any Door 79

4 Balance Life as a Consultant 97

5 Celebrate Moments with a Happy Hour 113

6 Commit to a Consulting Career 129

Section II: Performance and Conditi oning of

Great Consultants 145

7 Make the Most of Downtime 149

8 Build a Consulting Career Toolkit That Lasts 163

9 Ramp Up on an Engagement 179

10 Make the Best of Life in the Team Room 195

11 Achieve Breakthroughs by Managing Relationships 219

12 Nail Your Deliverables Each and Every Time 241

13 Take Your Clients Along for the Journey 261

14 Manage Energy and Bandwidth Remarkably Well 279

15 Learn the Art of Influence, Pushback, and

Negotiation 293

16 Roll Off with Grace 309

Section III: Reflections of a Consulting Career 319

17 Shape Your Consulting Experience 325

18 Follow the Traditional Consulting Path 335

19 Explore Nontraditional Consulting Careers 349

20 Make Consulting Career Decisions That Matter 367

21 Prepare for Consulting of the Future 383

Conclusion: MECE Muse Manifesto of Great

Consultants 399

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 403

Appendix A: Consultant Toolkit Starter Pack 407

Appendix B: Summary of 100+ Selected Practices,

Unwritten Rules, and Habits by Chapter 419

Bibliography 435

Editorial Reviews

"A generous primer, a useful toolbox for anyone seeking to become one of the rare and valuable cadre of great consultants."
--Seth Godin, author of "Linchpin"

"The MECE Muse is something not just for those thinking about or trying to get into consulting, but also for those in the middle of it or reflecting on their time in the space who seek to understand more about their experience. Having spent six years as a management consultant, I found myself repeatedly smiling by the clarity of the insights Christie shares, and wishing I had a mentor like her during my career to help it all make sense. As she says, "The journey to greatness is infinite," so I can use this book now to continue on the path I started on as a consultant."
--Bryan Falchuk, ex-McKinsey consultant, Inc. Magazine contributor, and author of "Do a Day: How to Live a Better Life Everyday"

"This book should be required reading for all new-hire consultants. Christie neatly packages and delivers lessons that normally are learned through years of high-pressure client meetings, late-night deliverables, and early-morning sprints through airports. Consulting is a journey, and the MECE Muse provides a practical roadmap for anticipating obstacles and maximizing the experience."
--Destin Whitehurst, ex-Deloitte consultant and Founder, ConsultingInterviewCoach.com

"MECE Muse is what the consulting industry has been waiting for! Christie Lindor masterfully ties together the untold significance of soft-skills, political nuance comprehension, technical skills and relationship management that set great consultants apart from the rest. The consulting leader interviews are powerful and answer all the questions that I wanted to know as an MBA student and former consultant. This book offers critical tools and stories that have never been covered before in all the books I've read on consulting and fills a gap of knowledge on the industry."
--Natalie Gill-Mensah, ex-PwC consultant and non-profit senior manager

"Compelling, engaging, and ripe with useful insights, The MECE Muse serves as a quintessential guide to the world of consulting that is ideal for young professionals pursuing a future career in the industry. By leveraging her vast array of experiences, Ms. Lindor's collection of anecdotes and advice equips the reader with valuable knowledge that is crucial in order to succeed in consulting, doing so in a manner that is informative yet highly immersive."
--Matt Boyle, College Student & Aspiring Consultant

"Christie Lindor provides a critical resource for all types aspiring and seasoned consultants. The vivid examples of life as a consultant and overview of the industry's landscape offer realistic previews for those interested in such a career and a reality check for those of us who have lived in that world. The learned lessons from Lindor and those interviewed for the book apply to all in fast-paced, high-stakes professions."
--Susan M. Adams, PHD - Professor & Chair, Management Department, Bentley University

From the Publisher