The MECE Muse
100+ selected practices, unwritten rules, and habits of great consultants
The insider's guide to becoming a great consultant that the world has been waiting for.
MECE (ME-SEE) stands for Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive. It is a technique used in management consulting to facilitate a structured approach to solving some of the world's most complex business problems.
The playbook of how to become a great world-class business consultant, The MECE Muse is the 2018 Winner of the International Book Award in Business - Careers and 2017 Winner of the UK Wishing Shelf Independent Book Award.
For the past 8 years, management consultant Christie Lindor has quietly been on a mission to be the mentor she wishes she had earlier in her career. She spent the first five years looking for the right model of mentorship as an African American woman in the traditionally male dominated, high stake world of consulting.
With over 15 years of consulting experience working at top firms, Christie is now sharing secrets of great consultants in a new book, The MECE Muse: 100+ selected practices, unwritten rules, and habits of great consultants. Now a successful management consultant, she has decided to scale her mentoring efforts so that others do not have to face the same challenges she did earlier on in her career.
Christie conducted research by connecting with over 50 top consulting partners across 27 consulting organizations on what makes a great consultant. This includes perspectives and thought leadership from 8 out of the top 10 consulting firms in the world.
Christie shares a collective of strategies for success along with her own personal perspectives in the profession. The MECE Muse not only provides an account of what great consulting looks like in action, it's a playbook and reference guide of how you too can become a great world-class consultant.
Christie is proudly one of the first African-Americans to publish a non-fiction book on the topic of management consulting.
In addition, she is also a regular blogger, a podcast host, and TEDx public speaker.
Who is the MECE Muse for?
- Undergraduate or graduate college students that are interested in launching a career in consulting
- Experienced industry professionals seeking to transition into consulting
- New or seasoned consultants seeking a competitive edge or additional mentorship within the profession
- Motivated go-getters looking to build world-class consultative skills for any career, industry, or sector
What you Will learn From this book
Inspiring stories, comprehensive insights, career resources, and so much more!
Secrets and stories from 50+ top consulting partners across 27 firms, representing thought leadership from 8 out of the top 10 consulting firms in the world, on how to be a great consultant
Why being ambitious and working hard is not enough to succeed in consulting
A detailed breakdown of the intangibles of great consultants
What is the most underutilized skill you need to create a competitive advantage
Top ways you can hurt your personal brand without even realizing it
How to become a trusted advisor for your clients
Why sponsors are the key to fast track a consulting career
What excellence looks like in consulting
The most effective ways to work with different personalities on a consulting project
How to start and end a consulting project in a way that creates impact
Who are the different types of people you need in your consulting ecosystem
Why you need a consulting career toolkit and how to build one
How to create and sustain habits, skills, and experiences to become world class consultant
What skills you need to build for consulting of the future
A historical primer of the consulting profession as well as where the consulting industry is headed
““The MECE Muse is something not just for those thinking about or trying to get into consulting, but also for those in the middle of it or reflecting on their time in the space who seek to understand more about their experience. Having spent six years as a management consultant, I found myself repeatedly smiling by the clarity of the insights Christie shares, and wishing I had a mentor like her during my career to help it all make sense.”
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““Why wasn’t there a MECE Muse book when I started years ago as a consultant?? This book is a wealth of information from practical advice to research and interviews of other established consultants. It is obvious this book is rooted in experience that readers can benefit from immediately and implement. I am most impressed that the book emphasizes the value of relationships. Successful consultants understand the power of self reflection as well as the importance of cultivating transformative experiences for those they serve. This is a necessary book for both beginners and the seasoned consultant.” ”
““This book should be required reading for all new-hire consultants. Christie neatly packages and delivers lessons that normally are learned through years of high-pressure client meetings, late-night deliverables, and early-morning sprints through airports. Consulting is a journey, and the MECE Muse provides a practical roadmap for anticipating obstacles and maximizing the experience.””
““The MECE Muse is what the consulting industry has been waiting for! Christie Lindor masterfully ties together the untold significance of soft-skills, political nuance comprehension, technical skills and relationship management that set great consultants apart from the rest. The consulting leader interviews are powerful and answer all the questions that I wanted to know as an MBA student and former consultant. This book offers critical tools and stories that have never been covered before in all the books I’ve read on consulting and fills a gap of knowledge on the industry. “”
““Compelling, engaging, and ripe with useful insights, The MECE Muse serves as a quintessential guide to the world of consulting that is ideal for young professionals pursuing a future career in the industry. By leveraging her vast array of experiences, Ms. Lindor’s collection of anecdotes and advice equips the reader with valuable knowledge that is crucial in order to succeed in consulting, doing so in a manner that is informative yet highly immersive.””
““Christie Lindor provides a critical resource for all types aspiring and seasoned consultants. The vivid examples of life as a consultant and overview of the industry’s landscape offer realistic previews for those interested in such a career and a reality check for those of us who have lived in that world. The learned lessons from Lindor and those interviewed for the book apply to all in fast-paced, high-stakes professions.”
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““Honestly, I only read this book because I was a little murky on what consulting even is. This is one of those rare occasions where you get exactly what the book cover says you will. I learned everything that I need to know about consulting and, if you want to know more about this form of work, I can’t think of a better place to start than with this book. The writing is great. 5 stars.””
As MENTIONED IN
Activate your journey to greatness
Download a free copy of The MECE Muse Manifesto of Great Consultants. The manifesto is a set of guiding principles from the book designed to provide a daily reminder of selected practices, unwritten rules, and habits of great consultants.
