Become a master consultant using the training program created and used by Oracle

The Oracle Consulting Way provides the essential tools and people skills a consultant must have to build trusted client relationships that lead to long-term business. The book defines what a consultant is and explains how to communicate the correct expectations early and often. Readers learn how to handle difficult clients, navigate challenging office politics, leadership techniques, leverage pseudo authority, and manage their own career path.

Introduction 1

Part 1: The Art of Consulting 5
Chapter 1 Consulting Explained 7
Chapter 2 Consulting Essence 11
Chapter 3 Are You One of Us? 15
Chapter 4 Going Up: The Elevator Pitch 31
Chapter 5 Take Two: Consulting as a Second (or First) Career 37
Chapter 6 Being Effective on Day 1 and Day 10,000 45
Chapter 7 Beware of or Embrace Independent Consultants? 51
Chapter 8 See the World, or at Least the Inside of Hundreds of Office Buildings 57

Part 2: Expect the Unexpected 63
Chapter 9 Predict the Unexpected 65
Chapter 10 Challenges, Opportunities, and Solutions 79
Chapter 11 Professionalism and Integrity: Leave a Lasting Impression 87
Chapter 12 Leverage Pseudo-Authority 115
Chapter 13 Tick Tock: Planning and Time Management 133
Chapter 14 Three-Year-Olds Make the Best Negotiators 143
Chapter 15 Client Politics: The Political Side of Consulting 153
Chapter 16 Meeting Mania 161
Chapter 17 Managing Challenging Behaviors 175
Chapter 18 Write Right 193
Chapter 19 Effective Writing 201
Chapter 20 The Importance of Language 211
Chapter 21 Shhhh! Listen, Please 215
Chapter 22 Good Question 221
Chapter 23 Present Your Skills 225

Part 3: Set Yourself Up for Success 237
Chapter 24 Success 239
Chapter 25 Prepare to Be Questioned 245
Chapter 26 You Were Selected for the Job:Now What? 263

Part 4: It’s Showtime 271
Chapter 27 Cue the Spotlight 273
Chapter 28 Before and After the Internet 277
Chapter 29 Acquired Companies: From Competitor to Collaborator 281
Chapter 30 Follow the Money: Cascade Business
Goals from the Top Down 289
Chapter 31 Consulting’s Secret: Implementation Methodologies 293
Chapter 32 Variety and Diversity: Cross-Functional Teams 297

Part 5 Your Career: It’s All Up to You 307
Chapter 33 The Proactive Career 309
Chapter 34 Managing Your Manager 319
Chapter 35 Loving Your Job 323
Index 327