In this brief exchange, Speaker A identifies personal accountability and confidence as the two most important personality traits for a consultant. Speaker B acknowledges the point, and Speaker A prompts further discussion by asking whether any other characteristics are equally important.
The two biggest personality traits that I've like picked up are the most important are like personal accountability and confidence.
Hmm, I like that.
Say there are any other characteristics that are as important?
The number one that I would say— so write this down— the number one thing, characteristic of a good consultant, are you ready for this? You have to care. You have to care about your client. I have sold so much work. I have negotiated so many big projects. Out of complex things of scope creep and everything like that because I cared and they knew it. It's an authentic thing. It's not makeup. It's like they get it. I would walk in and I'd have 8 minutes to present, you know, in orals to sell a $3 million piece of work and I can feel that it's not going right. I'd get up and I'd go like, look, this is why we're doing this and this is what I'm going to do to help you. I see the monkey on your back. I'm going to take that monkey. I've got experience to put that monkey on my back. I'm going to carry that monkey for you because I want you to be successful.