Growing as a consultant isn’t only about individual drive. It demands just as much of you as a manager – and of the conditions the company actually creates. The consulting role offers plenty of opportunities, but they don’t appear on their own. As a consultant, you need to be ready to spot them and seize them when they come. And development isn’t just about new assignments or more responsibility. It’s about conscious choices from the consultant, the closest manager and the consulting company alike.
Not every assignment is inspiring – and that’s okay
Most consultants will recognise an assignment that wasn’t much fun. Maybe the product was uninteresting, or the tech choices were dated. It’s a natural part of consulting life. Not every assignment will be equally inspiring, but even there you can grow, if you choose to take responsibility for your own learning. Having your own drive, and a willingness to learn even when nobody demands it, is often what decides how much you actually grow over time.
Picture this: you step into a team with an older tech stack and no product owner, where the team has to set its own priorities. What is there really to gain? No new technologies or frameworks to sink your teeth into, and no clear priorities on who does what.
Or could it be a chance to take on more responsibility, develop how you communicate and dare to take initiative? To challenge the team or the client? The most modern tech choices or the most clearly defined assignments aren’t always the ones that give the most growth. Often it’s in the murkier situations that you learn the most: about yourself, about teamwork, and about how to create value when the structure isn’t already in place.
Consultants shouldn’t have to carry everything alone
Consultants rarely leave because assignments are boring. What creates frustration is when companies talk about development but in practice prioritise short-term utilisation, while managers aren’t given the chance to be present. And most managers want to be present, I’m convinced of that. But the company doesn’t always give them the conditions to be.
When support is missing, assignments start to feel dull. No one asks how it’s going, what challenges there are or what the week actually looks like. The consultants who grow the most are rarely the ones who work alone. They’re the ones who take responsibility themselves and have a company that supports them.
A manager’s presence makes a difference
A good manager doesn’t need to have all the answers, but does need to be present. It’s about asking the right questions and following up over time. Not just asking whether everything is working, but daring to go a little deeper:
- What’s working well right now?
- What’s causing friction?
- What are you learning?
- Is there anything we can do to help you get more out of the situation?
When a manager asks these questions regularly, possibilities open up, even in assignments that aren’t obviously inspiring. The consultant has someone to reflect with. And the client notices the difference.
Growth happens in the interplay
What does it really take for a consultant to grow, even in the less inspiring assignments?
It’s about not being left on your own. About wanting to move forward yourself. But also about having someone who asks questions, picks up on signals and creates security over time. When individual drive meets a company that genuinely supports it, even the tougher assignments become valuable steps in your development. Not roadblocks. Not pauses.
This is also where the differences between consulting companies become clear, for future colleagues and clients alike. Because in the long run, it’s often easier to learn a new programming language than to develop the ability to communicate well, collaborate and meet challenges with the right attitude.
So who would you pick for your own team? A technical genius with no collaboration skills? Or someone who may be technically less strong, but excellent at collaboration and flexibility, with a clear will to keep learning?
Contact:
Lovisa From, Head of Marketing, Visionite
lovisa.from@visionite.se
www.visionite.se
Visionite is an IT consulting company with a strong presence in Sweden and a growing team in Helsinki, Finland. We bring together experienced IT specialists and exciting opportunities, with a strong focus on kindness, trust and work-life balance. Our ambition is to create a workplace where people feel valued, supported and encouraged to grow, both professionally and personally. With people at the heart of everything we do, we help our clients find the right expertise while building a culture where everyone can thrive.
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