Cognitive themes for effective consulting

When you expose apparent experts to unanticipated situations, you'll notice that some experts will fail to perform while others still thrive.

The reason for this is that adaptive experts actually think differently about situations.  Where the routine expert is thinking about specific techniques that may not survive context changes, the adaptive expert is using a qualitative understanding of underlying concepts.  The routine situation doesn't expose this difference but the unanticipated situation does.

The US Army noticed this kind of phenomenon with their tactical commanders and developed a program called Think Like a Commander in order to teach cognitive themes for adaptive tactical decision-making:

1. Keep a focus on mission and higher commander's intent
2. Model a thinking enemy
3. Consider effects of terrain
4. Use all assets available
5. Include considerations of timing
6. Consider where your fight fits into the bigger picture of what is happening / should happen both from friendly and enemy perspectives
7. Exhibit visualisations that are dynamic, proactive, and flexible
8. Show rich contingency thinking

This made me think that there are similar cognitive themes that distinguish adaptive vs routine consultants so I modified the themes to make a set of Cognitive Themes for Effective Consulting:

1. Keep focus on higher intent
2. Understand stakeholder interests
3. Consider effects of organisational structure
4. Use all available resources
5. Include considerations of timing
6. Consider how the current engagement fits into the bigger picture of what is happening / should happen both from friendly and unfriendly perspectives
7. Consider risks, mitigation, and contingencies