Mini Series: What is Consulting?

In our first "mini series" post I will attempt to delve into what Consulting is. I am often asked just what I do, and aside from listing clients and client projects I usually have a pretty hard time defining what exactly Consulting is.



Q. Why is a consultant so called?

A. Because he first cons and then insults you.

Consultare


In recent years consultant jokes have run as rampant as the lawyer jokes of yore. Where previously I would laugh at the question question: How many lawyers does it take to change a lightbulb? Now that they're directed at me it seems less funny.....I wonder why?

The term consulting is derived from the word consultare which in Latin means to discuss. But the ancient romans were not talking about today's roaming bands of men and women in suits selling their time for $800 an hour. They were talking about conversations, debates, meetings. The consultants of the time were more like politicians and debaters than startegists and salesmen. Consulting should be about helping people, helping companies to overcome obstacles. To help them through discussion and consilium.


So my first answer to the question, What is consulting is simple, its enabling discussion. Its listening but what else is it?