I read ‘What You Learn in Your First Year as a Consultant’ (『コンサル一年目が学ぶこと』), so I’ll share the insights I gained from the book.

Background: Want to Understand Consulting

I read this because my company also does consulting as part of its business, and it was available on Kindle Unlimited 😊

Below are quotes and notes from memorable passages.

Chapter 1: Consultant-Style Speaking Skills

01 Start with the Conclusion

As a methodology for starting with the conclusion, there's something called the PREP method. Let's understand this principle first. PREP is an acronym for the following terms:

Point = Conclusion Reason = Reasoning Example = Specific examples Point = Repeat the conclusion to close

😊 The PREP method

06 Speak So Others Can Understand

Don't make assumptions. Even things you consider common sense, speak from zero assuming the other person knows nothing.

😊 Speak from zero, assuming the other person knows nothing.

08 Understand the Other Person's Expectations

**Continuously exceeding the other person's expectations is the foundation of business. To do this, you first need to understand what those expectations are.**

“Business, at its core, is nothing more than continuously exceeding the other person’s expectations. Continuously exceeding the expectations of customers and consumers. Continuously exceeding your boss’s expectations.”

😊 Continuously exceeding the other person’s expectations is the foundation of business.

Chapter 2: Consultant-Style Thinking

11 Master Logic Trees

**Four Reasons Why Logic Trees Are Useful**

1. You can use them for life
2. You can see the big picture
3. You develop the ability to discard
4. Decision-making speed increases

😊 I want to recommend logic trees to everyone.

**The Basics of Problem-Solving with Logic Trees**

1. Organize and break down issues
2. Conduct numerical analysis on each issue
3. Weight the items
4. Turn them into actions

Chapter 4: Professional Business Mindset

23 Deliver Value

Your desires, preferences, and inclinations don't matter. There's only one thing: Can you make valuable proposals for the client company's management?

😊 This is everything.

25 Recognize That "Time Is Money"

At minimum, behave like a professional

😊 Behave like a professional

While trial and error involves inevitable failures, are you making the maximum effort as a professional, even without the skills?

😊 As a professional, you should make the maximum effort you can right now.

27 Learn Commitment

Don't commit to trying hard. Don't commit to your internal boss. Commit to work results. Always have commitment to those you're contributing to.

😊 Face the work itself.

①Be satisfied with your work content ②Be in an organization with high commitment

😊 Higher commitment is obviously better, so understand how to increase it.

29 Demonstrate Followership

Movements aren't born from a single leader. The first follower is just as important as the leader. A leader alone cannot create a movement. The first follower is crucial for any major movement.

😊 Not just leaders, but early followers are also important.

30 Professional Teamwork

Teamwork is when each person takes on roles that only they can fulfill, and everyone runs toward the team's overall victory. If there are two people with exactly the same role, unfortunately one of them becomes unnecessary. You don't need two people with the same role.

😊 Wouldn’t this make the team vulnerable since they can’t prepare for contingencies?

That’s all from the Gemba, where I was able to understand consulting a little better.