Consulting Essentials: The Art and Science of People, Facts, and Frameworks

This is the book that needed to be written -- how to really think and communicate in today's disruptive world.   In my work, I regularly meet industry executives, entertainment icons, and market influencers, and they have each left their impression on me.  Although less glamorous, over the last decade I have seen Jeff Kavanaugh make a similar impact on Fortune 100 corporate leaders, his consultants, and everyone that he meets.I was so excited to learn that Jeff has converted his experience into a book on core professional skills -- or as he likes to call them, Consulting Essentials. Jeff has addressed two important needs that have been missing in the market:  how to help young professionals become more effective sooner, and how to help anyone think and communicate more effectively.Instead of a string of checklists, or so-called life hacks, this book is a thoughtful explanation of what it takes to think and communicate like an executive.  This can accelerate anyone's career, especially college students or young professionals.  For too long, only a limited number of students at elite colleges, or consultants at strategy firms, have been exposed to these concepts. Jeff's book provides everyone access to these nuggets of wisdom.  Although this book is good for students, I found plenty of ideas that I can apply to my life immediately.A side benefit of this book is that it helps you think and communicate better.  That is something we can all use, especially in this world where loud voices and fake news is prevalent.

I was required to buy this book for the Author’s class. It’s similar content to what you find in Case in Point and Case Interview Secrets. Additionally, there’s a rather eclectic collection of information he has used over his career. Some of it is really good, some of it is really generic and unusable. If you have no idea what Consulting is like and haven’t read the aforementioned books, this will be great for you. If you’ve already been successfully case interviewing or managing your work relationships, there’s very little here for you. I would personally cut out about 1/3 of the content as it was a slog to get through.

I knew this was aimed at new consultants and was reading it with that expectation. But I found a treasure trove of useful insights of things I knew after more than 20 years in the industry, and things I forgot I knew... like what charts to use when, and the power of movement to unlock creative ideas in brainstorming workshops.The best parts of this short but comprehensive guide are the client stories... Jeff has been there with many of the world's largest companies trying to solve big problems and small, and he helps take you there as well. His writing is simple but his knowledge is deep, and it shows.I was surprised to find lots of bonus content here as well, such as the principles Infosys Consulting uses in everything from setting expectations around communications (no flame emails -- pick up the phone if you're feeling emotional -- and sparing use of reply-alls) and travel policies, to how to ensure ethical client-centered behavior.Recommended as a graduation gift or for anyone looking for a one-stop shop of key consulting principles, from Design Thinking to Artificial Intelligence.

A must read for college students preparing for the digital jobs of the future! Instructors seeking to provide their students with robust preparation will also find great value in how Jeff organizes a hierarchy of skills. His skills pyramid of learnability, foundational skills, and evolutionary skills is an excellent roadmap for prioritizing what and how to learn. Don't think that this is simply a guide for future and currently practicing consultants. Digital transformation requires all of us to reframe problems in ways that create extraordinary value.As the Founder of the Nation's first Federally Registered Digital Marketing Apprenticeship, I am continually looking for tools that help me develop thinkers and leaders, not just digital technicians. I'm now working on integrating Consulting Essentials into our curriculum. Our future workforce needs more than just digital skills, they need tools and frameworks to help them deliver breakthrough innovation.

Having worked with Jeff, I expected no less than a clear, concise and to-the-point overview of consulting as a profession. This book is that and more. Jeff presents his view of consulting in the global marketplace as a sea change in the way all professionals, regardless of industry or region should think about their problems, attack their projects and think their way collectively onto the next level for their teams, businesses and careers. I highly recommend this book not only for the gems of knowledge salted throughout, but also for its readability. Whether you're 24 and thinking about a career in consulting or 42 and pondering that next step in your professional evolution, this book will help you get there and stay there.

I’m about to start a consulting firm in a few weeks. This book did a great job of laying out what the consulting life exactly entails.It was comprehensive and well organized. And it had a ton of revealing insights.The author goes into great detail on several topics. My favorite was the one on critical thinking (chapter 2).My one ding against the book is that it tends to be somewhat verbose and belabor (not emphasize) certain points. (Once I noticed this happening the first couple of chapters, I just skimmed the last several.)Overall, a gem of a book. Highly recommend it in every consultants’ library.

Great for work and life

This is an amazing experience sharing by the author relevant to days in life of many Consultants. Very nice read so far.

I literally highlighted parts in ever chapter if not every page. It's full of information which I'm sure I'll return to.