Consultant Augmentation

Which, to be fair, isn’t exactly correct anymore. Large Language Models (LLMs) can definitely generate answers – and even questions – but I still think the spirit of that quote holds true.

I’ve never been good at writing – ever.

It’s always been a struggle to articulate and express my racing thoughts, no matter how well-formed they are in my head. That was something I genuinely feared when I moved into consultancy. Writing is a significant part of the role – and often, a key attribute that separates good consultants from great ones.

At a technical level, my mind and skill set is sound – my strength. But a writer I am not.

I used to spend a disproportionate amount of my effort – often chargeable time – documenting: writing Statements of Work, solution briefs, long-form architectural explanations. Sometimes it felt like more time was spent writing about the solution than actually designing it.

But you chalk it up to part of the job and carry on.

Years later, I’m still here – and Large Language Models haven’t replaced me.
They’ve enhanced and sharpened me.

I call it “Consultant Augmentation” – slightly tongue-in-cheek, but honestly, that’s what it is.

A part of the role I once dreaded – the writing – has gone from feeling like climbing a mountain to something more like a steady uphill walk. Still effort, but with a clearer view of the summit.

What used to take hours – sometimes multiple revisions or a “sleep-on-it” moment – now takes measurably less time and mental strain. It still takes effort, but it’s focused, not draining. When used right, LLMs act like a second brain – one that handles structure, tone, and clarity – so I can stay focused on the thinking.

But – and this is important – I’ve come to truly understand this:

LLMs can’t generate context.
They don’t grasp nuance.
They don’t design strategy.
They don’t think.
They still, as Picasso said, just give you answers.

And that’s why I’m still relevant to the process. Maybe even more relevant than before.

Because now, I focus more of my time on where I bring the most value to the engagement – the technical core of the role: designing solutions, shaping strategy, and clearly articulating said architecture.

LLMs haven’t taken away what I do best. They’ve helped me do it more.

How I Actually Use It

Here’s how LLMs fit into my workflow – and why I still consider the output mine.

I’m not a natural writer. Anytime I need to create something structured and polished, it takes effort that drains me. So I don’t start with polished anymore.

I start with a brain dump.

• Freeform thoughts
• Bullet points
• Fragments of insight
• Technical considerations

Importantly, it’s my context – my understanding of the project, the client, and the architecture. I’m not asking the LLM to generate a solution design or invent design principles. I’m feeding it what I already know – in the format I choose.

Then I ask the LLM to help me shape it. Maybe into a summary, a doc outline, a client-facing draft. But I’m steering. It’s helping me express what I’ve already constructed mentally – not building anything from scratch.

That’s the distinction.

The process is iterative. I refine. I give it more context. I challenge the phrasing. I rewrite parts that don’t sit right with me. And crucially — I sign off every word.

LLMs don’t “generate documents” for me. They help shape them. Sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph – every part still reflects my tone, my decisions, and my thinking.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a consultant, or any technical professional who’s unsure about AI – and everything that falls under that increasingly vague umbrella – join the club. There’s a lot of noise.

But here’s my take:

AI hasn’t replaced me.
It’s just given me more time to focus on the parts of the job I actually enjoy – and where I add real value.

And I think that’s the bit many consultants aren’t saying out loud.

Not because it isn’t true – but because they don’t want to admit how much they already rely on these tools. Some might even hide it.

But let’s be honest:
We’re not being replaced.
We’re being augmented.

And if you use it right, that’s an edge – not a threat.