What makes a good consultant, well that really depends on how you would define good wouldn't it?
In the article about "The Lost art of Consulting" the independent consultant as such was declared dead and replaced by a new breed seeking to extend the engagement with the client rather than getting the job done and move on.
This of course is a rude generalisation but never the less is holds some amount of truth. Everybody who has worked in the consulting businees will know that the ability to produce billable hours has become the prime mantra.
Psychology is a wierd thing and customers seem to accept the fact that an expensive consultant by defalt also is good. It's the thing about luxury brands that take over here. Just provide some fancy wrapping and you're in business. No matter what the product actually is as long at the bill is large enough, it has to be good. But what does the client really get for all this money? What do you actually bring into the business that justifies the size of the bill?
Let's try and look at from a entirely different angle. Why not putting some good old virtues to work while your supporting a client?