The skills of one IT consultant are often very different from the skills of other IT consultants.  But a successful IT consultant typically has the following traits.

IT Consultant:  Management Skills

In your first year of business, you will most likely have to hire some subcontractors before you hire employees.  You will have to make hiring decisions and even firing decisions.  Therefore, as an IT consultant you need to be decisive and swift.   

IT Consultant:  Diplomacy

As a successful IT consultant, you should be able to teach technology to computer phobic individuals in a way that is not at all condescending.  If you are accustomed to working with highly skilled users, you have to also learn to put that aside and have patience.  Your job is to do what it best for your client and your own business.  If you are worried about this with certain clients, you may choose to walk away.

IT Consultant:  Empathy

You should be able to empathize with your client and know what he/she is going through so you can offer a good solution.  Listen and understand a client’s issues so you can help calm him/her.  This calming process will be necessary for you as an IT consultant often before you even think about providing treatment for the symptoms or working on the problem.

Added By:  Joshua Feinberg