Assess My Consulting

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Assessment

Welcome to the Self Assessment

For each of the 36 competences, please select the best option that matches your current skills and experience

There are no right or wrong answers. There is no time limit.

Section One - Competences 1 - 12

Competence 1.

Ensures a positive profile of their consultancy practice e.g. through networking, conference attendance/ presentation and social media usage.

	Regularly contributes to industry events
	Occasionally networks
	Encourages consultancy practice engagement with clients and industry through talks, publications, and industry leading positions
	Actively networks and builds practice profile through events

Competence 2.

Understanding of the business trends, competitive landscape, processes and regulation of the industry(s) that the consultant works in.

	Uses industry knowledge to add value to clients
	Understands and explains key elements of the client industry
	Delivers industry analysis and thought leadership
	Uses industry knowledge to improve client outcomes across sectors and specialist areas

Competence 3.

Knowledge of the worldwide and local consultancy market, history, players, trends and reputation (five key topics)

	Understanding of fundamental consultancy definitions (client, consultant, consultancy, service capability etc)
	Aware of the local consulting industry and its impact
	Has extensive knowledge across consulting topics
	Uses knowledge to create and guide new viewpoints for the profession

Competence 4.

Demonstrates the personal qualities and good practices of a professional consultant (Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Independence, Objectivity, Accountability, Commitment, Robustness).

	Acts honestly and respectfully to colleagues and clients, delivering what was agreed and communicating if not able to
	Creates and governs frameworks for professional behaviour
	Shows integrity and responsibility in dealings with colleagues and clients
	Demonstrates commitment and ethical behaviour. Calls out unprofessional and unethical actions

Competence 5.

Is able to work effectively in complex environments containing value conflicts, uncertainties and multiple truths.

	Independently addresses complex areas
	Recognised authority in handling complex situations
	Works effectively on tasks under supervision
	Manages complex environments with value conflicts and uncertainties

Competence 6.

Act in ways to collect and reuse knowledge for the benefit of the individual and the business.

	Drives knowledge system uptake. Takes responsibility for knowledge segments across multiple sector or specialist areas
	Designs systems to manage organisational knowledge. Uses knowledge for marketing, to create services, for innovation and as a market differentiator
	Uses knowledge to solve client issues
	Collects and improves organisational knowledge base

Competence 7.

Acts in line with client, country and international sustainability goals.

	Advises on sustainability goals and plans. Leads on integrating these into consultancy work
	Incorporates sustainability practices, and client goals.
	Identifies and communicates sustainable behaviour and gaps
	Understands sustainability’s impact on consultancy and clients

Competence 8.

Brings a strategic, top down mindset to maximise delivery effectiveness.

	Uses multiple models or frameworks and uses a holistic, iterative and non-linear approach to delivery
	Uses creative ideas to provide fresh insights
	Looks for patterns and uses multiple viewpoints
	Applies multiple thinking types to deliver solutions

Competence 9.

Is familiar with and uses a wide range of consulting approaches (tools, methods, frameworks, processes, techniques).

	Uses a wide range of methods, selecting the best for each situation
	Advises on consulting approaches and develops new methodologies
	Uses simple techniques and builds a toolkit of approaches
	Chooses and applies the best methods across projects

Competence 10.

Brings a pro-active, flexible mindset to maximise delivery effectiveness.

	Proactively maximises productivity and value
	Communicates priorities and adjusts focus proactively
	Manages competing requirements effectively
	Adapts to external factors and finds alternative approaches

Competence 11.

Knowledge of local, industry-relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.

	Awareness of typical legal frameworks (New Zealand examples: 2020 Privacy Act, 2015 Health and Safety at Work, 2000 Employment Relations Act), statutes, regulations and Industry Codes of Conduct.
	Understands relevant legal and regulatory frameworks
	Identifies and addresses legal and regulatory requirements across sectors and specialist areas
	Advises on compliance in complex environments and contributes to the development of industry regulations

Competence 12.

Works as part of a team.

	Prioritises the wellbeing and success of the team first
	Performs own role effectively and understand others’ roles
	Manages conflict and is aware of the impact of their actions
	Uses individual strengths to get the best from themselves and others

Section Two - Competences 13 - 24

Competence 13.

Manages the long-term relationship with the client, in a way that maximises the value to both parties, leading to ongoing work.

	Handles client requests and develops operational relationships
	Interacts daily with client staff, focusing on delivery and communication
	Leads client relationship management at all levels. Recognised as a trusted partner to senior leaders
	Facilitates formal client meetings and develops relationships over time

Competence 14.

Is able to get the best out of others varying style by situation.

	Provides clear direction and supports others
	Mentors and educates less experienced team members
	Resolves simple conflict and encourages others
	Develops other leaders through challenging and empowering techniques

Competence 15.

Gains a knowledge of the client’s strategy, processes, structures and stakeholders, in order to successfully deliver and add value.

	Understands and explains the internal client environment
	Provides strategic advice based on client strategy and practices
	Uses deep client knowledge to recommend major improvements
	Makes targeted recommendations for client improvements

Competence 16.

Act in a way to maximise your consultancy profile by adding to the culture, knowledge and social elements of the practice.

	Establishes a positive culture of knowledge sharing
	Participates in events and shares knowledge
	Seeks opportunities for positive contribution to team culture, knowledge, and social dynamics
	Leads initiatives for team culture, knowledge sharing and social dynamics

Competence 17.

Planning self-development of behavioural skills and shows track record of personal growth.

	Expands knowledge, skills, and capabilities through intentional learning and skill-building activities (courses, mentors, experience)
	Mentors and assists others in achieving goals
	Embraces change and fosters a growth mindset. Open to new experiences and perspectives. Learning how to learn
	As a senior consultant, refines existing skills and strengths through personal development

Competence 18.

Ensures suitability of role, understands and acts within the contractual bounds, setting expectations and clarifying when necessary.

	Negotiates and clarifies responsibilities and addresses issues of role clarity
	Ensures contractual terms are met and reflects critical responsibilities and risks. Implements monitoring and regular reviews
	Sets and resets expectations with all parties
	Understands role within a consultancy engagement. Aware of own strengths and limitations, and escalates where necessary

Competence 19.

Key current and emerging practices that clients expect consultants to be conversant on, such as Security, Artificial Intelligence, RPA, Blockchain, Diversity, Agile, Digital, IOT.

	Delivers solutions involving relevant trends
	Aware of trends affecting specialisms
	Communicates and educates on future impacts to the consulting industry
	Incorporates current trends into consulting engagements

Competence 20.

Collect requirements, designs and validates solutions for clients (Understanding Process).

	Works as part of a team in non-complex environments
	Delivers solutions in challenging environments
	Works independently in advanced environments in area of expertise
	Facilitates consulting in complex environments

Competence 21.

Taking responsibility for actions and the outcomes of those actions.

	Takes full responsibility, seeks improvement and develops strategies to enhance performance
	Goes beyond being responsible to deliver results and achieve goals, address challenges and find solutions
	Meets commitments and obligations
	Understands the impact of their actions

Competence 22.

Continually and proactively builds relationships and profile through networking, self-marketing and social media usage.

	Develops international community relationships and high industry profile
	Builds industry relationships and senior level client relationships
	Maintains and deepens client relationships
	Builds project relationships to raise profile and improve delivery

Competence 23.

Delivers and manages client capability improvements or transformations.

	Leads and manages large, long-term projects and teams
	Acts as a change champion in complex environments
	Supports others and understands change management practices
	Delivers own work and understands their role in larger transformations

Competence 24.

Builds trust and confidence in clients, stakeholders and colleagues by demonstrating a positive and constructive attitude while driving to achieve desired goals.

	Manages with empathy and transparency
	Positive and constructive in stakeholder interactions
	Understands how trust develops and focuses on helpfulness, honesty (not reckless), reliability and confidentiality
	Creates an atmosphere of trust and transparency

Section Three - Competences 25 - 36

Competence 25.

The interaction of personal, consultancy, client and societal values.

	Supports and promotes the development and implementation of values in own organisation, clients and networks, and professional bodies
	Understands the importance of values for individuals and organisations
	Exemplifies values and sets clear expectations for themselves and others
	Aligns behaviour with professional values

Competence 26.

Understands the cost model of consultancy activity (e.g. commercials for external consultants, or cost recovery for internal consultants) so as to act in ways that support good financial health.

	Establishes resourcing and costing model as well as establishes guidelines for consultancy engagements
	Aligns resources to maximise financial benefit
	Manages financial aspects of consultancy work
	Understands basics of consultancy funding and performs financial tasks (e.g. delivery and timesheets)

Competence 27.

Ensures technically, operationally and financially feasible solutions.

	Uses knowledge from various sources, including financial considerations and innovative practices
	Delivers solutions under guidance with a focus on technical feasibility
	Develops narrow solutions independently, focusing on technical and operational criteria
	Considers all factors and guides others. Includes all considerations, inc. ethical and sustainability etc.

Competence 28.

Can write, speak, listen and present using a variety of communication styles.

	Delivers effective verbal and written communication to small
	Inspires large groups through multiple communication channels
	Communicates effectively one-on-one
	Adapts communication style to formal and informal situations

Competence 29.

Acts to maximise client satisfaction and engagement for example by active communication, issue management and managing expectations.

	Builds relationships and manages expectations. Tells difficult truths and manages basic issues
	Pre-empts client needs and offers innovative solutions. Acknowledged as a trusted advisor at senior levels
	Responds to client questions and escalates issues. Shows and understands the client’s point-of-view
	Provides value beyond daily responsibilities. Resolves complex issues

Competence 30.

Effective management of self throughout all aspects of consultancy activities.

	Delivers tasks in stressful situations through adaptation and prioritisation
	Completes tasks within scope and time in normal environments
	Delivers tasks with emotional awareness and self-discipline in challenging environments
	Shows leadership and self-management in tough situations

Competence 31.

Is able to add value to client and consultancy throughout the consulting lifecycle.

	Leads clients in identifying and prioritising value-based improvements
	Delivers what is asked for
	Identifies key success measures and uses them to steer engagements
	Understands qualitative and quantitative value concepts and delivers based on this

Competence 32.

Follows a structured approach (such as ISO20700:2017) across the end-to-end engagement cycle in order to provide high quality deliverables.

	Follows a defined approach across the full engagement lifecycle, including commercial stages
	Creates and governs engagement frameworks in professional services or client organisations
	Explains and applies the end-to-end process
	Follows a defined process from start to post-delivery (non-contractual)

Competence 33.

Builds technical specialism and expertise through education, qualification and experience. Can quantify and justify the level of expertise provided.

	Provides specialist advice to bring about change
	Leads the development of new models and methods. Recognised as a leading expert and trusted source
	Applies specialist knowledge to solve client challenges
	Commits to acquiring specialist knowledge

Competence 34.

Understanding and adherence to informal and formal standards of ethical behaviour.

	Leads the application of ethical practices and frameworks
	Follows a code of conduct for ethical behaviour
	Identifies and addresses ethical challenges in engagements, remediating and resolving challenges (including willingness to end engagements where necessary)
	Applies professional ethics in addressing common professional challenges

Competence 35.

Provides quality advice in the context of client engagements.

	Tailors advice to the client context
	Integrates expertise to provide high-quality advice
	Provides advice in line with recognised practices and bodies of knowledge
	Leads research to provide evidence-backed options

Competence 36.

Provides quality deliverables as part of the implementation team supporting the client.

	Defines and creates quality frameworks
	Defines and agrees on quality standards for engagements
	Provides deliverables in line with agreements
	Ensures quality throughout the engagement lifecycle

Your current experience level

Please select your current level of management consulting experience