Best Practice (360): Operating Guidelines of the Consummate (World Class) Consultants

The following list of operating guidelines originated from my experience, my research and self practice:

Alpha Guidelines
* Be the Top Three in your expertise.
* Be known for your principal skillset.
* Be discreet about your versatility.

Modus Operandi
* Always look at everything in terms of 360* view.
* Create (exotic and exclusve) opportunities then wait.
* Create and Drive ones own events first.
* Listen, Take Notes and Question
* Always focus on understanding the resolution of the client
* Present an "objective" perspective, enlightening questions and multiple options
* Never offer immediate perspective and solutions
* Speak Softly but carry a sharp but polished sword.
* Think in terms of multi-levels.
* Never do the "wet" work but prepare to do it.
* Create your value high enough that you are not there for ground-level grunt work.
* Be patient as a saint and have the work habit of a monk.
* Set a standard that only world class professionals can appreciate and amateurs would envy
* Always end a positive completion with your signature play.

Relations toward one's Strategic Network
* Advise not consult.
* Always behave professionally to your peers and below.
* Always reward them accordingly and beyond.

Public Relations
* Dress and look professional (white shirt and blue blazer).
* Be lucky by being consciously aware and prepared (Always be well-read and informed).
* Always look and act like a spearplayer not a spear carrier (Always be light and lethal).
* Share the generalities of the profession not the specifics.
* Focus on "what is right and just" in terms of the ["Greater Good"].
* Deal ppl in terms of reciprocity.
* Endorse the favored and quietly support the underdog.
* Always focus on gaining new allies.

Business Strategy
* When you are the top three, one can always pick their clients.
* Focus on managing profit not market share.

Client Relations
* Always consult rarely advise.
* Always stand next to the client.
* Always keep the secrets of all clients
* You are only loyal to your last employer.
* Remind the client that exclusiveness costs more money.
* Your time is their time as long as they are willing to pay for it.


Strategic Leadership
* Focus on time-driven metrics, strategic platform and successors.


From my thread on Zhang Liang, some more Cardinal rules:
* Focus on quietly maintaining the connections between all specific objectives and the ops ;
* Focus on the the importance of cyclical thinking;
* Be the bearer of good news;
* Only Announce macro events that has been completed successly;
* Focus on the importance of collaborating with trust and commitment;
* Subjugate the dominant paradigm;
* Constantly develop a "quiet" strategic network from the 1st circle and beyond;
* Always have ["worthy"] prodigies that can carry your work;
* Teach the prodigies the essentials and specifics; (The prodigies had to learn how to connect the specifics to the grand goal on their own);
* Prepare your prodigies "good to go";
* Always know where your target's at and what's their next move;
* Always stand next to the throne of the client;
* Always know when to enter and when to exit; and
* Always start as a "respected" consultant and exit as a "respected" advisor.


"Thunder is good. Thunder is loud. Thunder is powerful. But it's the lightning that does the job." --- Mark Twain


/// Did not steal this above material where the Raytheon CEO stole his material almost line for line.

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