Part 1: Decomposing a Consultant

Consultants don't just solve problems.

They reveal your blind spots.

What I have found that separates the best consultants from the rest is their ability to create clarity within chaos.

In this three-part series, I'll break down what makes a great consultant.

Today we examine the first three essential functions:

1. The Lens & Mirror

   → They reframe how organizations see themselves

   → They reflect uncomfortable truths hidden in plain sight

   → They translate internal data into external perspective

Most organizations are drowning in information while starved for insight. The lens reveals opportunities while the mirror exposes blind spots hidden from view.

They do this through:

→ Finding signal in the noise across silos

→ Exposing uncomfortable realities

→ Connecting dots others don't see

The best consultants provide value by framing these insights into next steps the client can take.

2. The Problem Framer

   → Clients rarely identify their true problem

   → Consultants frame issues before suggesting fixes

   → Quality of the question determines the value of the answer

When a CEO in my portfolio asks, 'How do we grow 20%?' I often respond by reframing it:

"Which segments are growing and align with our strengths, and what's stopping us from gaining market share?"

This critical function includes:

→ Distilling complexity into a precise question

→ Testing problem statements against available data

→ Defining clear scope, timeframes, and success criteria

A precisely framed problem is already half-solved. A vague one creates endless wheel-spinning.

3. The Strategic Orchestrator

   → They integrate people and resources across silos

   → They sequence decisions for maximum impact

   → They craft coherent plans from fragmented inputs

The best consultants don't tell you what to do. They teach you how to build the machine that determines what to do, when to do it, and how to measure success.

Their methods include:

→ Breaking complex challenges into manageable parts

→ Filtering out noise to focus on what matters most

→ Building flexible plans that keep teams aligned

The paradox?

Many believe clients pay for 'the answer', but the real value is harnessing data into actionable insights, ensuring they tackle the real obstacles to success.

These three functions form what I call the consultant's clarity-creating engine. They transform confusion into focused direction for their clients.

But clarity without action is an expensive conversation.

In Part 2, we'll decompose how consultants drive change.