There are several really talented consultants out there, but a common complaint I hear from photographers is that some of them are too touchy-feely or flaky for their tastes. We are perceived as a mostly hippy-dippy lot who ask our clients to look into their hearts, to be open to new ideas, do affirmations, etc.
Stuart Smalley be praised, so to speak.
I can understand that discomfort–I too get uncomfortable with some of the more spiritual or less “concrete” stuff. I’m big into research and proof. I like to deal with facts and evidence. But at the same time, there is a reason that so many consultants find connections with these areas…because it works.
It works in the real world, for example, to use compassion in your business. This is something that may come to us from Buddhism or other spiritual practices, but when applied in the real world, it simply works. When you deal with a buyer by expressing an understanding of her issues and appreciating her difficult situation (needing to get the best work for the smallest price), she is much more likely to be more forthcoming with you and that leads to finding solutions and getting gigs. (Note: being compassionate doesn’t mean rolling over!)
Another perceived flaky idea is that being positive will help your business. Again, this is not crap, it will. There is all sorts of science to back up this notion–thinking more positively (and yes, that includes doing things like affirmations) builds connections in your brain which improve cognitive functioning, and if you are thinking better, that can only help you in your work!
So, when you are considering working with a consultant, you should expect to hear some common things like that it is vital that you be open to your own creative voice. Yes, even from me with my obnoxious sense of humor (I sell shirts that say “I don’t suck” and “vision = value” after all). We (consultants in general) wouldn’t offer these ideas if we didn’t really believe in the results.