More Secrets of Consulting: The Consultant's Tool Kit [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

The book is a hodge-podge of self-management (EQ) and other consulting principles such as time management and contract negotiations. If you are a well-balanced individual and know yourself you may not find much new here. If you aren't - the material only scratches the surface - you'll be better off reading somethink like Dr. Phil's book, "Self Matter" and "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" combined with some NLP books.

Weinberg has given up on his "Wisdom of the Sufi's" approach to imparting advice. The previous book was full of ridiculous stories that somehow rang true. By taking himself more seriously the acronyms that he invents for the description of consulting principles eg "the yes/no medallion" come across as confusing, annoying, and pompous.

I really enjoyed weinberg's previous consulting book and was looking forward to this one. And while there is good stuff in this book - I found the blatant self-promotion a bit over the top. In every chapter he references previous books or seminars - giving away only enough information to peak the reader interest in an additional purchase. Why pay for what is essentially a thinly veiled ad?

Miscellaneous tidbits that I found useful:

Money - "the Wisdom box":
I would like to learn something new - but what I know pays too well.
When you stop learning new stuff it is time to move on because consultants only value is knowledge.
Don't disregard money - do what you love but keep a weary eye on value add

Contracts - "The Wishing Wand"
eg: don't kid yourself into thinking that contracting agencies are working on your behalf. Typically they negotiate the customer up and the contract consultant prices down.
Keeping contracts shorter can be useful

Burn-out - "Oxygen Mask"
Comes often mid-career through competence in your field (accepting too much work) and the allowing others to make choices for you - "shoulds" - see dr phil
Solution - saying no to work and leading a balanced life - see 7 principles

Conclusion - Worth checking out - but not a must have.

Don't get me wrong. This is not in any way a bad book: it's still as well written and humorous as Weinberg's other books, and chock full of amusing stories and "laws" derived from them. Anyone involved in consulting of any sort will still get a great deal out of it. But if, like many men, you're uncomfortable talking and reading about "feelings" you may find this less easy to read.

The "Consultant's Tool Kit" of the subtitle is actually a complex metaphor. Each component of the toolkit is a metaphor for a certain aspect of your personality and personal capabilities. For example, the wishing wand is a metaphor for understanding, and being able to ask for, what you want from a professional relationship. The chapter around this metaphor first explores why most people either don't know what they want or are unable to express it, and suggests ways to make your wishes clearer. It places this in a professional context, contract negotiation, and emphasises how the personal ability to express and value your wishes will help you negotiate more successfully.

In a similar way other chapters focus on developing wisdom and new knowledge, managing time and information, being courageous with your decisions, learning how to say yes and no, understanding why you and others are in the current situation, and keeping yourself in balance, avoiding burnout and other self-destructive conditions.

These are all important not only to consultants, but to anyone trying to establish a more satisfying professional or personal life by managing problems, by self-improvement and by better handling their relationships to other people.

Weinberg could have presented much of this material in a style much closer to the earlier book, but instead chose a more introspective approach which demands a greater investment on the part of the reader. Only time will tell how this investment is repaid, but I believe it will be for me.