The consultant mind

A monkey is not super skilled at leaping between trees, it appears so because the trees are close to each other.

African proverb

I had a dialogue with a fresh MBA from one of the most prestigious MBA programs in Nigeria, let's call him Tunde, the engagement was interesting in that I gained some valuable insights into the way my mind works. I have worked 2 years as a management consultant and I have learnt to build a thought pattern that makes me sound like a genius to most people, at least Tunde a fresh MBA was willing to pay me to consult for his business.

I like to call the thought pattern “framework thinking” (am sure someone else has already named the concept but I refuse to google it just so I can bask in my ignorance) back to my story, I asked Tunde a series of questions off hand (I think that was the first proof of my intelligence to him) and was able to explain his business to him in a way he probably has never thought of it, in addition to offering multiple suggestions to improve several aspects of his business that were no brainers(at least to me).

I am not an exceptionally smart person(believe me am not being humble) so it couldn't have been my wits and am not super knowledgeable(I have still not been able to read more than 60 books a year) but I was able to use framework thinking to outwit my MBA friend, so what is framework thinking; it is the use of proven frameworks, processes or methods to achieve logical reasoning on a subject.

In Tunde’s case I used Alexander Osterwalder's’ Business model canvas(his book is a must read) by going through every aspect of his business I was not only able to drill well enough into his business in a 30 minute conversation to sound like an expert in his business but was also able to offer solutions to many aspects of his business. For example, he says I sell directly to my customers and I say have you considered, Value Added Resellers and he takes notes like an arduous student

Framework thinking allows you to analyse situations and contribute meaningfully to discussions (there are not a lot of things that cannot fit into a two by two if you know how to) I learnt to think using frameworks through my work and education and I believe that it's a methodology that everyone can learn and adopt in his or her life. So the next time you have an issue to resolve, google its framework.