4 out of 4 stars
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Today’s dynamic and uncertain environment has expanded the role of consulting manifolds. Regardless of the size of a business organization, its stakeholders move to consultants or consulting firms to redress their organizational issues and boost firm’s growth. This book demystifies the dynamics of this ever-evolving profession by sharing experiences and strategies, which consultants use in different fields.
The MECE Muse, 100+ Selected Practices, Unwritten Rules, and Habits of Great Consultants by Christie Lindor is a thoroughly motivational and instructional book on consulting that imparts practical knowledge on career strategies. It can help the business leaders to wisely select consultants and take advice on different functions of their business units. The author of this book, Christie Lindor, is a seasoned management consultant with 16+ years working experience. She has worked for top consulting firms like Deloitte Consulting LLP and IBM Business Consulting Services. So this book is a true reflection of her mentor experience.
The MECE Muse is a 336 pages book, divided into 21 chapters under three sections. The first section focuses on the personal skills required to become a good consultant like; showing manners, balancing professional and personal life, and developing networks, etc. The second section helps consultants to focus on performance and strategies to pursue a successful career in consulting. And the third section helps new consultants to wisely select the consulting path and align and update their skills according to the future business requirements and technological innovations (artificial intelligence, robotics, and cybersecurity).
No doubt, independent Consultants, and consulting firms have had a substantial role in all phases of business cycle i.e.; start, boom, recession, and recovery. And now, globalization has given them a unique role to cope with changing business environment all over the world. Because it is a very demanding profession, so consultants have to keep abreast of internal and external business dynamics in different industrial sectors. As Christie Lindor says, “In consulting ignorance is not bliss; it’s quite expensive.”
Owing to its importance in the global business scenario, this book will help consultants to develop constructive relationships with their clients, understanding workplace cultures and evolve better strategies to successfully get through the project transitioning phases. Moreover, it also offers the range of options to new aspirants, as to which path they should choose as a consultant. It also yields extensive information about consulting firms according to their size, prestige, and mode of work.
The MECE Muse is a very insightful book regarding consulting profession. I thoroughly enjoyed this informative book. Moreover, the addition of inspiring quotes and the patches of “motivational moments” shared by great consultants (performing in different fields) at the start of each chapter was a very refreshing element. At the end of each chapter, Christie has also added the interviews of consulting partners and leaders of different professional service organizations, who shared their experiences and unique perspectives. Furthermore, appendixes added at the end of the book are very useful in clarifying different consulting terminologies and background sources. I also like that the author has frequently used charts and tables to explain her point vividly. One thing I found incongruent is the font size and style of headings, which is a bit inconsistent. The author should revise it to make it comfortable for readers.
On the whole, The MECE Muse is an interesting guidebook to consulting, providing unwritten rules and practical knowledge on consulting strategies. The book is professionally edited with only a few minor mistakes. So I have no qualms about rating this book 4 out of 4 stars. This book is useful not only for consultants; but also for every person related to the management position can seek advice from this book. Even, it can opt as a textbook for business students pursuing their career in consulting.
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The MECE Muse
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