Hi A,
Couple of ideas based on my experience
- Dare to ask: it's normal that you feel uncomfortable at the start of a study in a field you don't know. It's also completely normal to ask lots of clarifying questions at the beginning of a study. Nothing is worse than a team member rushing full speed before understanding what the study is about. Plan a knowledge coffee with your engagement manager, plan a 30-minute call with a research analyst or knowledge expert, talk to previous team members, look up primer documents on your knowledge platform etc.
- Work 80/20: don't confuse "quality work" with "nitty-gritty detailed work". A well-structured approach is often more impactful than a super detailed excel analysis which takes you hours to make. You will get much more traction by having something clear rather than too detailed
- Communicate top-down: a good consultant is not a consultant who can tell all the details of his logic. A good consultant focuses on a USEFUL so-what. So in your communication, focus on the real insight rather than all the steps you have taken to get there. It will make your communication much shorter, to-the-point and effective.
Hope this helps & good luck!
Maxim
