In management consulting, strategy often gets the spotlight. But for Isaias Lagsa Borres, Certified Management Consultant, execution—not ideas—is where real value is created.
“Implementation proves more difficult than analysis,” Borres says. “Consulting is not about supplying solutions—it’s about making sure organizations can actually carry them out.”
Building a Consultant’s Mindset
Borres’ consulting mindset was shaped long before he formally entered the field. His early experience in accountancy and management education trained him to approach problems systematically—breaking ambiguity into structured questions and testable hypotheses.
“Through academic initiatives and work experiences, I cultivated the skill to deconstruct unclear issues, evaluate data, and create actionable suggestions,” he explains.
But consulting required more than analytical rigor. It demanded communication, leadership, and comfort with uncertainty.
“Consulting necessitates close teamwork under stringent timelines,” Borres says. “You must align quickly, manage conflict, and deliver high-quality results under pressure.”
When Leadership Makes the Difference
One consulting engagement stands out as a defining moment. Borres led a project for a medium-sized company struggling with operational delays and declining customer satisfaction. Multiple initiatives were underway, but no one owned execution.
“Roles were ambiguous and teams operated independently,” he recalls.
Borres’ first move was not to redesign processes—but to realign people.
“I began by redefining the issue with senior stakeholders to ensure agreement on a concise set of distinct, quantifiable goals,” he says.
He then reorganized the project into focused workstreams with clear leadership, deadlines, and accountability.
Psychological Safety as a Performance Tool
Rather than relying on authority, Borres focused on psychological safety.
“I prioritized transparent dialogue and encouraged team members to identify risks proactively and question assumptions,” he says.
Short, frequent check-ins replaced long meetings. Barriers were removed quickly. Middle managers were involved in co-creating solutions, ensuring buy-in rather than resistance.
The result: the team delivered a prioritized implementation roadmap ahead of schedule, and improvements in efficiency followed within months.
“The client mentioned that clear direction and teamwork were essential to the project’s success,” Borres says.
What Sets Consultants Apart Today
In Borres’ view, successful consultants share a rare combination of skills:
- The ability to translate insight into impact
- Comfort with ambiguity
- Strong communication and storytelling
- Business and digital fluency
- Deep client empathy
- A commitment to continuous learning
“What sets successful consultants apart is their ability to combine analytical excellence, clear communication, digital awareness, and client-centric execution,” he says.
Why He Chose the CMC®
Borres pursued the CMC® designation because it reflects how he already practiced consulting.
“The CMC symbolizes the premier international benchmark for professionalism, integrity, and quality,” he says.
The certification process required deep reflection. “The hardest part was converting years of instinctive decisions into structured explanations that demonstrated ethical reasoning and judgment.”
That discipline changed how he works. “It made me more deliberate, self-aware, and disciplined in my consulting approach.”
Advice to Aspiring Consultants
Borres offers simple but powerful guidance to those entering the field:
“Treat clients with compassion and honesty. Guide teams with transparency and dignity. And consistently focus your efforts on providing genuine, enduring value.”
For him, consulting is not about brilliance—it’s about responsibility.
“The CMC promotes a mentality that transcends technical ability,” Borres says. “It is about delivering practical, sustainable outcomes while upholding the highest professional integrity.”
