conversation is an engine

If there is one word that sums up the life of a consultant, it might be “talk.” But not for the reason you think. Consultants always seem to be selling—true—but it is even more true that fresh new solutions pop up in the middle of the most mundane conversations. Good consultants realize this and always have their radar up.

Yesterday I talked with a high-powered, well-connected friend who had just left the corporate world and was thinking about consulting. We waxed on about what fun it is to reconnect with old friends and colleagues in the course of networking, and finding new friends and hearing their stories. We both mentioned this crazy thing that can sometimes happen when someone innocently says “So, what is it you do, again?”

Suddenly you find yourself casting about for an appropriate way to summarize your work for this precise conversation, this context, and this person. You may even have an elevator speech ready to go, but even that needs to be tweaked right now. This instant.

And so you talk. And sometimes you are surprised by what comes out of your mouth. New stuff you’ve never thought of before. Stuff you can follow-up on right away.

My work as a communications consultant allows me to probe for ways to serve people and organizations with strategic writing skills. This conversation miracle happens routinely. We trade problems. We share insights. We consider what is and what could be. Along the way we often say true things about ourselves. And if we are listening, small confirmations pop up in the conversations. Small confirmations about who we are and what we do in life and how our role fits. When these small confirmation pop, and when I am listening, small acts of creation spring forth. Solid bits of ground beneath my feet, ready for walking forward, ready in a way I could not walk before. All because of conversations.

As a Trinitarian God-fearer (that is, your standard-issue Christian), I’m reminded that creation sprang forth in much the same way: the Triune God talking together and—behold—this blue ball, and everything on it.

So…have a conversation today.

P.S. Speaking of conversations, read Jeff Cornwall’s take on how his undergrad students view corporate career paths versus entrepreneurship. It will cheer you. Or not.

###