With the rapid advancements in the field of technology, staying up-to-date with the latest happenings is getting more and more difficult. Even if you possess in-depth knowledge of a narrow sector, staying even moderately informed about all the related fields can be an impossible task. Regardless of whether you specialize in networking, security, software development or something else, it is impossible to practice all of it in a live situation. This means that it is very likely for a consultant not to have all the answers.
Dealing with Unrealistic Expectations
It is not uncommon for clients to overestimate the knowledge possessed by a consultant. In such a case honesty is the best policy. Instead of wasting energy over hiding your ignorance to maintain your ‘know it all’ image, the same can be utilized in achieving something productive. Consultants need to keep in mind that not knowing something and saying so to the client is ok. You need to make the client understand that although you do not know something, you can find out about it. Educating clients about the limitations of consultants is the only way to tackle unrealistic expectations.
Prior Knowledge vs Research
The ability to conduct research is almost as important as prior subject knowledge. A consultant need not know it all, but he needs to know how to find the required information through research and use it with proper reasoning. Having background knowledge is essential to know what to look for, to be able to assess the authority and relevance of the available information and to apply it effectively. The methods of conducting research have changed radically with time. Earlier research meant long hours in library bent over books and research papers, but today search engines like Google and a number of authoritative websites have made research much more convenient.
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