Seven Recommended Books for Management Consultants
Aspiring consultants continually develop their consulting skills in order to gain an edge over the other candidates during the application process. One proven strategy they utilize is reading highly recommended books written by experts.
Here are the reasons why reading recommended books prepares you for a management consulting position:
| Vocabulary | Reading enhances your vocabulary, thereby improving your written communication skills. As you know, consultants regularly write reports, presentations, and correspondence. A flair for the written word is essential. |
| Comprehension | The more books you read books, the more accustomed you will become to the various concepts and ideas. This is crucial in the management consulting industry as experts often deal with extensive surveys, research, and documentations. |
| Creativity | Reading enhances a person’s creativity, another valuable attribute required in the industry. Consultants have to approach each project from various perspectives and incorporate creativity in their output. |
| Critical Thinking | Reading concepts becomes more interesting if you analyze the information. Do you agree with the concept? Is there a theory that rejects the assumption? What did you learn? When you ask yourself these questions, you develop your reasoning ability, the most vital attribute consultants should possess. |
We have compiled a list of recommended books which contain valuable information about how you can succeed in the management consulting industry:
#1: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
In this book, author Stephen Covey guides the reader on how to incorporate values such as self-improvement, productivity, teamwork, and determination. This book has been read by aspiring consultants throughout the world and will help you develop an optimistic outlook and practice proactive habits in your everyday life. Covey provides anecdotes that will inspire you to bring out your personal and professional effectiveness.
#2: Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office
Author Lois Frankel wrote this book to empower women and help them succeed in the corporate world. It enumerates the detrimental behaviors women have unconsciously developed during their childhood. Frankel introduces effective ways of overcoming these roadblocks to success. By applying her strategies, you increase your chances of finding viable career opportunities.
#3: Influence
“How will you convince a person to say ‘yes’?” is the question author Robert Cialdini addresses in this book. Cialdini believes that persuasion is a science, not an art and introduces six principles of persuasion: reciprocity, scarcity, authority, commitment, liking, and social proof. Based on his intensive and rigorous research on what motivates people to make changes, he wrote this book not only for marketers but for everyone working towards personal change and success in their lives.
#4: Getting Things Done
This is one of the most recommended books on improving productivity. David Allen, a management consultant, has written this with the premise that productivity and the ability to relax are direct proportional variables. He provides insights on how to attain efficiency, tips for strategically focusing your energy, and techniques to complete tasks on time.
#5: Purple Cow
Seth Godin used a metaphor for the title in order to summarize the main message of his book—be remarkably different. He asserts that your product should have a unique factor for it to be marketable, interesting, and popular among consumers. He encourages readers to emulate organizations that consistently launch incredible products.
#6: Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies
In this book, McKinsey & Company provide updated and practical ideas on how to create, manage, and measure an organization’s value. Case studies are provided to illustrate how to apply the techniques and principles. Students who are interested in business and entrepreneurship will find the expert advice of managers and investors useful in understanding the industry.
#7: How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships
In this book, author Leil Lowndes shares some tips for effectively communicating with others. She provides ideas on how to make a positive impression and establish rapport during the first meeting and techniques on how to project confidence, be credible, and take advantage of your body language. This is a good read for people who need to improve their social skills.