Ability to ask questions and listen intelligently - A good consultant will ask specific, open-ended questions to learn their client or prospective customer’s wants and needs. Then they will listen closely for clues and/or “hot buttons” to determine what is most important in the customer’s decision-making process. Point to remember: Asking questions is the easy part. Listening to what they say, or don’t say, is the hard part and where many drop the ball.