The History of Consulting goes way back. Indeed, consulting has always existed. We can trace advisors to decision-makers back to the Antiquity. Marco Polo, Colbert, and Hamilton are, in a way, the first consultants. But modern Consulting originated in Europe at the end of the 19th Century during the second industrial revolution. The Consulting Industry has always followed the trends closely both in management theory and technology. The specialization and segmentation of the Consulting Industry continue to scatter the market. Each region evolves at its own pace depending on the maturity of both buyers and sellers of Consulting Services.
“Consultant” is not just a fancy name, but a professional who can make a difference in how a company addresses challenges and succeeds. A simple definition of a “consultant” includes the following: a provider of expert advice to another person or an entity who is compensated for their services.
How old is Consulting?
We are not exactly sure, but the evidence of the first Consultants offering advice might be traced back many centuries ago. Consultants, then, might not have been called “Consultants,” and Thought Leadership could have been words of wisdom and guidance. As this ancient quote by Homer to Achilles (in the Iliad dating back from 750BCE) suggests, a great leader can inspire his followers and lead by example:
“Be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds.” – Homer.
