Edgar H. Schein – Humble Consulting: How to Provide Real Help Faster
Summary: In „Humble Consulting,“ organizational psychologist Edgar Schein challenges the traditional expert-driven consulting model and proposes a radically different approach based on what he calls „humble inquiry“ and genuine curiosity. Schein argues that consultants are most effective when they adopt a position of humble ignorance, asking questions to deeply understand the client’s situation rather than rushing to provide solutions based on presumed expertise. The book emphasizes that real help comes from building a relationship of mutual trust and respect, where the consultant’s role is to facilitate the client’s own problem-solving abilities rather than imposing external answers. Schein provides practical guidance on how to ask the right questions, listen actively and create the conditions for clients to discover their own insights and solutions, making the helping process faster and more sustainable.
Why we like it: The content of this book is very close to how we define „consultancy“ because it fundamentally reframes what it means to help others professionally, moving away from the ego-driven „expert“ model that often creates dependency and resistance toward a more humanistic, relationship-based approach that empowers clients. Schein’s decades of experience in organizational development lend credibility to his counterintuitive insight that admitting what you don’t know and asking genuine questions is far more powerful than showcasing what you do know, making this essential reading for anyone in consulting, coaching, leadership or any helping profession.