As a management consultant, I've seen plenty of situations in which a client wants - to steal a line from Ambrose Bierce - confirmation of a course of action already decided upon. They don't always get it.
More pleasant are the occasions when a client wants a fresh pair of eyes to review a matter that has already been studied or which is being considered. Being reasonably bright helps but a vital part of that process is to be different and not to approach the facts with preconceived notions. To enter that zone, the consultant must be wary of letting experience be a blindfold instead of a microscope. You may think you have seen the situation a thousand times before but it's important to refrain from snap judgments. The minute you become jaded, you lose your edge.
That same ability is a real virtue for leaders.
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