Rudeness, discourtesy, and aggressively insulting behavior hog the limelight these days.
Often these traits are flaunted by people who have reached the pinnacle of the public and corporate spheres.
As leaders of consulting firms, should we emulate their methods or chart a different path?
Polls indicate that the vast majority of people believe civility is worse now than it was 10 years ago.
Of course, there is no global standard for civility.
However, there’s at least one, obvious, appealing aspect of boorish behavior: it seems to work.
At least on the surface.
Like it or not, we can easily point to unpleasant individuals who have achieved material success and public acclaim.
Consulting is not immune to this phenomenon.
I know quite a few consulting leaders who have parlayed a penchant for brash talk, arrogant remarks, and unbridled ambition into successful consulting firms and seven-figure personal income.
Fortunately for these callous consultants, a meaningful percentage of the population interprets their approach as boldness, lack of fear, an unwillingness to be constrained by convention, and an admirable lack of inhibition.
But let’s take a closer look at the bulls crashing through the china shops on their way to material success.
They—and the people who revere them—have incorrectly conflated the positive and negative traits of being aggressively loutish.
Attributes of the Bull in the China Shop
Net negative impact on the world
Can you embody all of the positive traits without embracing their negative counterparts?
Absolutely.
Take a Stand, but not on top of others.
You can stake a bold position without trampling on colleagues and competitors’ reputations.
Pursue Your Vision, unswervingly, without demolishing those in your path.
Creative genius is figuring out how to collaborate with those who, at first glance, appear to oppose your progress.
Embrace Risks, without hanging others out to dry.
While failure is never fatal in consulting, your team may lack your risk tolerance. Protect your team when they fall short, and you’ll gain loyal supporters.
Lift Those Around You, remembering that consulting at its best is Right-Side Up.
Elevate your clients by helping them achieve their goals, even when it doesn’t benefit you directly. You’ll see your consulting practice, self-respect and joy flourish.
I don’t condone offensive attitudes in consulting. Still, we can learn from those who have prospered despite (or because of) their coarse personalities.
What other good traits do you think we should adopt and what bad traits do you think we should we eschew as consultants and consulting firm leaders?
Text and images are © 2026 David A. Fields, all rights reserved.
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