In the previous post, we reflected on the consulting world and the consultant recruiting processes that allow firms like ours to help generate value for our clients. We reviewed how this consultant profile evolved for us at Montblanc from a “hero” profile to a “heroic team” concept, where the teams generate exceptional results through the effort of the whole. If you want to check out this post, click here. 

Unlike the perspective of “heroes at work,” a heroic team knows that success depends on the result, and that the result belongs to the entire team, not just one individual. This means understanding that together we are an entity with a set of characteristics diffent than what each team member have individually. In general, we separate the characteristics into these four dimensions, for which, in addition to identifying them, we develop work, training, and plans that motivate each team member to continue growing and improving: 

• Skills: These are the inherent characteristics and virtues of each team member; everyone has different skills at different stages of development. Skills are cultivated, and at Montblanc, we seek to ensure that each consultant can develop skills, especially those related to topics that interest and motivate them. 

• Knowledge: This is the “information” that each consultant masters and knowsby  the experiences they have lived. It multiplies daily as they work at the firm. Knowledge grows because it is developed based on the research of their areas of interest, but specially in interactions with team members, where the arguments, reflections, and analyses that others bring to the discussion open up new ways of thinking and new connections  between previously unknown areas of knowledge are made.. The experience of another more senior person also contributes by sharing experiences and realities that others have not lived, but which serve as an anticipation of experience the consultants will probably have 

• Self-knowledge: A maturity element in a consultant is their degree of self-knowledge; knowing how they contribute to the team and to clients is of great importance to contribute effectively. At Montblanc, we help everyone go beyond their comfort zone and explore assignments that show unknown elements of the potential of the consultant. 

• Trust : For a team to function properly, everyone must be able to trust each other (each with their responsibilities, and everyone I trust will help me and the team when something out of the ordinary requires that additional effort). A successful team is one in which each member knows they are in the best team because they know their teammates pursue the same goals and deeply care about the team and each of its members – and will not let other elements prevent the team from achieving its results. That feeling that the team is capable of “anything” is the greatest sense of power a team can experience. 

Without a doubt, the most important thing about these four characteristics of a “heroic team” is that they are all built, developed, and perfected. Being the product of learning processes, they are not immutable over time; they transform and are consolidated through work and practice, because, as Cicero said, “It is not enough to attain wisdom, it is necessary to know how to use it.” 

With work and practice a consultant can perfect their skills and discover those that they had not explored before, for example, when they must present to a client for the first time and discover that they feel more comfortable than they initially thought while doing so. Then, in a second opportunity, they incorporate feedback from their colleagues and improve what was previously done. 

Through work, a consultant expands the growth barrier, after spending days researching to become almost an expert in a market they did not know before. In this same example, work and practice allow the consultant’s self-awareness to improve, who initially thought that a couple of hours of research would be sufficient and later discovered that it actually required days. 

Finally, after much joint practice, a team begins to build trust, which is articulated when a consultant, based on their self-knowledge, skills, and knowledge, commits to the team and delivers what was promised. After repeated instances of fulfilling commitments, the team stops doubting and knows that any assigned task will be accomplished. 

But no matter how much work and practice there is, building a “heroic team” is not possible without one final ingredient: “spirit” (or “grit”). And it’s that intangible spirit that pushes us to give a little more of ourselves. It’s what motivates us to make that presentation to the client, to research for as many days as necessary (and not get discouraged when it turns out it wasn’t just a few hours), to make honest commitments to our team, and to give our all to fulfill them. 

If we’ve learned anything, it’s that those who were exceptionally good students in their careers don’t necessarily become good consultants; on the contrary, those who show perseverance and determination, more commitment to learning, and helping others always manage to become outstanding consultants, highly valued and loved by their colleagues and clients (yes, being liked is very important! We work with people, and the trust and enjoyment of working together are crucial in the work experience and ultimately in the results). “GRIT” is that ability to persevere in the face of adversity, not to give up, to have optimism in the future and in my abilities, to achieve things. 

If you want to contribute your skills, knowledge, and self-awareness, and perfect them over time, but above all, if you want to work, commit, and persevere, we invite you to apply to Montblanc Consulting and be part of our “Heroic Team.”