Consulting Skills Courses

Course Overview

If you ask a range of people, what to them, represent the key skills of an effective consultant, you will get a variety of answers, and often people can easily tell you what they don’t’ value in a consultant rather than what they do value. A common issue for many, is the inability of a consultant to listen to them, and for many, the lack of proactivity, or feeling of partnership, coupled with unreliability give many consultants a bad press.

Consulting skills are not the preserve of consultants, but are skills required across the board in most businesses today.

To be a successful consultant requires a broad range of skills and approaches. They need to be viewed as a safe pair of hands, reliable, able to ask challenging questions, be able to influence, provide cost effective and innovative solutions and be a superb listener, to name but a few attributes.

The GBS Consultancy Skills course has been designed for anyone in business who provides an internal or external consultancy service. It is suitable for those that have a lateral relationship with the client and aims to provide the skills and techniques needed to manage the relationship effectively.

Please note, this course can be delivered as virtual instructor led training (VILT), face to face, or it can be delivered with a blend of both formats. We will customise the content and duration in line with your learning and development requirements.

Typical learning outcomes

Course format options

• In House Course
• Prices available on request
• Virtual

Other Specialised Business Skills Courses

• Business Writing in the Digital Age
• Commercial Awareness Courses
• Finance for Non-Financial Managers
• Project Management
• Report Writing
• Stakeholder Management Courses
• Technical Report & Business Writing Courses

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Consulting Training?

  Consulting training refers to a structured, practical programme designed to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to become successful consultants. It typically includes a combination of theoretical learning, practical exercises, case studies, and real-world simulations to develop the core competencies needed in consulting roles.

• How Do I Learn to Be a Consultant?

  Professional development training programmes, especially if they are tailored to your specific needs and requirements, are ideal as they provide the skills required in all aspects of consulting which can include areas such as problem-solving, client management, and strategic thinking.

• What Skills Are Required to Be a Successful Consultant?

  To excel as a consultant, you should focus on developing the following skills:

  1. Analytical Thinking: Consultants need to be able to analyse complex problems, break them down into manageable components, and apply structured problem-solving techniques
  2. Communication and Presentation: Effective communication is crucial in consulting. You should develop strong verbal and written communication skills, as well as the ability to present ideas and recommendations persuasively
  3. Client Management: Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients is essential. Developing interpersonal skills, empathy, and the ability to understand client needs and expectations are important for successful client management
  4. Project Management: Consultants often work on multiple projects simultaneously. Understanding project management methodologies and being able to effectively manage time, resources, and deliverables is vital
  5. Business Acumen: A solid understanding of business fundamentals, including finance, strategy, marketing, and operations, is crucial for providing valuable insights and recommendations to clients.