Navigating "on the beach" (or "bench time") in consulting? This guide explains what it means, why it's normal, and offers actionable strategies for consultants to use downtime for professional development, networking, and career growth. Learn to turn unassigned periods into a strategic advantage.
Discover how "thinking from the issues" is a vital skill in consulting and business. This structured problem-solving method—used by top global consultants—helps professionals speak clearly, write effectively, and make confident decisions in English.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) has implemented new rules for English financial disclosures effective as of April 1, 2025. This important change is influencing how companies operate in Japan, creating exciting opportunities for consultants with strong English language and communication skills.
When consultants work with a new client, they often need to learn about a new market or industry. They don’t become experts overnight—but they know how to learn quickly and effectively. You can use the same strategy to learn English. Here's how!
Business professionals need to explain complex ideas in simple, easy-to-understand ways. Learn these terms to help you communicate complex ideas quickly and smoothly.
How do you maintain confidentiality without being rude? Recognize a bad way and learn some good ways to express confidentiality.
I have been teaching consultants since 2011. In that time, I have seen a lot of different approaches to studying for the G.B.C. test. One study method fails every time.
When you have a lot on your plate, you have a lot of important tasks to manage. This could mean that you’re trying to balance multiple projects at one time, or you’re dealing with one large, demanding project.
If you want to be organized, you have to stay on top of your work. When you stay on top of something, you follow it closely to make sure that you're up to date. This means that you are fully in control of the situation and can react quickly if something changes.
If you start a new project with the intention to work hard immediately, then you hit the ground running. We use this expression when we are prepared to start a project right from the beginning, with a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and efficiency.
If you do more than is expected of you, then you go above and beyond. Companies are fortunate to have employees who go above and beyond because it typically means that they do more than their job description.
If a conversation is going in a new direction and you want to return to a previous point, you can circle back.
In business, it’s very common for discussions to be directed away from the main point as new ideas, issues, or related topics come up. If you would like to refocus everyone’s attention to the main point of a discussion, you can circle back to it.
Have you ever worked on a project that completely changed the way your business operates? If that project was the outstanding achievement that your company needed to grow, it was a game-changer.
If you have a well-reasoned recommendation that will help someone improve their performance, you can give them constructive criticism. Constructive criticism usually includes positive and negative feedback and is shared in a friendly, supportive manner.
When you go to the theater to see a show, you see the actors and the scenery, but you don't see all the people backstage who run the lights and sound, handle the props, or built the set (scenery). All of those people work behind the scenes, behind the scenery you can see on stage.
When two people or organizations negotiate an agreement so that each one profits, they cut a deal. You each have to give up, or "cut", some of what you want so that you can both make some profit, even if it's not as much as you wanted.
Here are a couple of examples:
Being on the beach may sound relaxing, but it isn't always relaxing when used in a business context by a consultant.
