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.

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

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

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

Competence 3.

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

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

Competence 4.

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

	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)
	Follows a defined approach across the full engagement lifecycle, including commercial stages

Competence 5.

Delivers and manages client capability improvements or transformations.

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

Competence 6.

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

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

Competence 7.

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

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

Competence 8.

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

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

Competence 9.

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

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

Competence 10.

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

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

Competence 11.

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

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

Competence 12.

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

	Uses knowledge to solve client issues
	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
	Collects and improves organisational knowledge base

Section Two - Competences 13 - 24

Competence 13.

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
	Chooses and applies the best methods across projects
	Advises on consulting approaches and develops new methodologies
	Uses simple techniques and builds a toolkit of approaches

Competence 14.

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

	Interacts daily with client staff, focusing on delivery and communication
	Handles client requests and develops operational relationships
	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 15.

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

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

Competence 16.

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

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

Competence 17.

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

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

Competence 18.

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

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

Competence 19.

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.

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

Competence 20.

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

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

Competence 21.

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

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

Competence 22.

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

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

Competence 23.

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 24.

Ensures technically, operationally and financially feasible solutions.

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

Section Three - Competences 25 - 36

Competence 25.

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 26.

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

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

Competence 27.

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

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

Competence 28.

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

Competence 29.

Works as part of a team.

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

Competence 30.

Taking responsibility for actions and the outcomes of those actions.

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

Competence 31.

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

Competence 32.

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

	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
	Expands knowledge, skills, and capabilities through intentional learning and skill-building activities (courses, mentors, experience)

Competence 33.

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

	Understands relevant legal and regulatory frameworks
	Advises on compliance in complex environments and contributes to the development of industry regulations
	Identifies and addresses legal and regulatory requirements across sectors and specialist areas
	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.

Competence 34.

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

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

Competence 35.

Effective management of self throughout all aspects of consultancy activities.

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

Competence 36.

Provides quality advice in the context of client engagements.

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

Your current experience level

Please select your current level of management consulting experience