If you are a lifelong learner life myself, there is a strong probability that you are also an avid TED Talk fan. Sometimes I think I became a consultant because I realized that I wouldn’t be able to earn a livable wage being a college student. Consulting was the next best thing to being an eternal student. I am constantly presented with new challenges and ways of solving problems.
I am particularly fond of TED Talks because they provide
doses of knowledge, ideas, and new perspectives that I can unpack and discuss
with colleagues and clients alike.
Listening to TED Talks are like sitting in a tuition-free classroom in a virtual college with unlimited global community of visiting professors pulled from around the world. For a lifelong learner, life doesn’t get any better than that.
Below are 5 powerful TED Talks that can make you refine your
habits as a consultant in under one hour:
Julian
Treasure’s 5 ways to listen better (8 minutes)
In this 8 minute TED Talk, Julian Treasure
draws on his 10 years of experience in optimizing sound for brands. He discusses
the lost art of losing our listening due to the noise of the world and
technology.
Why this is important in consulting: Active listening is the number one skill that every consultant should
seek to constantly refine. Since conscious listening creates
understanding, Julian provides valuable techniques such as sound filters
to help you effectively listen. The power of intention in active
listening allows you to be able to listen to the information being
provided in a way that you could ask the right questions to your
clients.
Navi Radjou brings a
breadth of over 20 years to his 16 minute TED Talk discussing how to be
creative with extreme resource constraints.
Navi does a great job providing intimate example after example of
resourcefulness in action across the world of individuals creating high impact
innovative products or services with less.
Why this is important in consulting: The world of consulting is changing and with this pace of acceleration
leaves room for new opportunities. Consultants who are able to look past
the traditional ways of thinking and create simple yet innovative
solutions for their clients will win in tomorrow's market. The ability
to be creative, resourceful, AND analytical will be key differentiators
for the consultant of the future.
Simon
Sinek’s How great leaders inspire to action (18 minutes)
In under 20
minutes, Leadership expert Simon Sinek breaks down how leaders can inspire
cooperation, trust and change using the “Why, How, What” golden circle
framework. In his talk, Simon discusses a simple
model for inspirational leadership — starting with a golden circle framework and the
question "Why?"
Why this is important in consulting: Simon does a nice job discussing the different personas using the Law of
Diffusion of Innovation, illustrating how understanding the gaps that
exist between the personas is where value creation begins. As
consultants, we are usually in the business of value creation. We strive
to help our clients solve complex problems and transform their
businesses everyday. Change is never easy. Consultants have to be able
to understand how to connect with key stakeholders across a wide
spectrum of perspectives. Great consultants collaborate with their
clients to articulate a compelling vision for change, which begins by
being clear on the “Why”.
Yves Morieux: As Work Gets More Complex, 6 Rules to simplify (12 minutes)
30 year consulting veteran Yves Morieux highlights the impact
of "complicatedness" commonly found in organizations that results in a disengaged
workforce. Using 6 smart simplicity
rules, Yves shares practical solutions towards evolving an organization’s ways
of working with less structures and zero bureaucracy while adding more values
and capabilities.
Why this is important in consulting: Think ELI5 “Explain it like I'm five." Consultants are
constantly bombarded with solutions, tools, techniques, emerging trends,
frameworks, methodologies, etc... The ability to leverage your toolkit
to draw insights using simple language in an objective voice that helps
creates simplicity in the chaos of complexity is a prized
skill. Consultants should seek to emulate this mindset; take very
complex problems and help clients create simple, impactful solutions.
Laura
Trice – Remember to say thank you (3 minutes)
In 3 minutes, therapist
and coach Dr. Laura Trice
shares ideas on the power of the magic words "thank you” In
this short talk, Laura shares a story about a man who longs to hear his wife
say “Thank you” because he has never expressed this need.
Why this is important in consulting: "Thank you" is still one of the most powerful pair of words. At the end
of the day, manners and etiquette are undervalued skills in professional
services. The ability for consultants to genuinely say please and thank you to those around you still goes a long way in business!
I hope you can draw inspiration from these TED Talks as I did. What are some of your favorite TED
Talks? Share in the comments below.
