Skepticism as a consultant superpower

By Michaela Krause

Earlier this year, we turned seven. Each year I get asked: “What did you learn?” or “How did you get that far?” — and quite frankly, I usually ramble my way through some lukewarm answers.

Now we’ve hit that other time of year again — when people ask the question I’ve never really been able to answer: “What do you predict the next year will bring?”

Look — I have no magic glass ball. I’m not the “rah-rah, let’s go!” type. Whenever you ask me questions like that, you won’t get glorified flashbacks, motivational speeches (sorry, crew), or a neatly packaged “next year, we soar!” storyline.

What you’ll get instead is skepticism. My main trait. Some would even call it pessimism.

Skepticism: perceived flaw becomes a superpower

It used to feel like an odd habit — something to fix, to overcome. But after years of living (and consulting) with it, I’ve learned to see it differently: skepticism is a superpower.

Founders usually come hyped up — Optimism is what gets most people to start something in the first place. (Or, if you believe in funny science facts, maybe just Toxoplasmosis.)  Either way, someone with constructive — not cynical — skepticism can be their best partner in crime. Think of it like Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats: while founders are rocking the white hat (facts) and green hat (creativity), the skeptical partner naturally wears the black hat — spotting risks, anticipating pitfalls, and asking the tough questions. It’s not about killing ideas; it’s about making them stronger, more resilient, and actually executable. Pair that with a bit of yellow-hat optimism, and suddenly the duo has a complete toolkit for navigating uncertainty.

Skeptics like me anticipate criticism. We look for cracks before they split wide open. Skepticism keeps you sharp, grounded, and ready. It’s survival instinct turned strategy.

Preparing for the “winter”

When I started Laika, the times were “fat” — booming tech, booming comms, even a Covid-era boost to digital innovation. It was good. But skepticism whispered: maybe too good. Like the ant in the fable, I kept stockpiling — expecting the winter. (Hello, recession!)

Now, don’t get me wrong — nobody likes a full-time grumpy cat. Optimism has its magic. It’s contagious, uplifting, and necessary. But blind optimism can also paralyze you when things get tough — or make you say yes to everything and everyone.

As my dear friend Dannie recently said: “The world needs more leaders brave enough to say no to good things so they can say yes to great things”.

Pairing skepticism with the right traits

That’s exactly where skepticism earns its cape. It’s only a superpower if paired with the right traits: radical candor with compassion, brutal honesty with creativity, realism with the will to solve things. And — very importantly — it’s even stronger when balanced with the right people. Pair a healthy skeptic with an optimist, and you get the perfect mix of ambition and caution, drive and direction.

Looking ahead

So yes — I do have a prediction for next year. It won’t get easier. That’s it. No sugarcoating. But that’s not a bad forecast. Because this kind of realism — the grounded, slightly skeptical kind — builds better consultants, stronger teams, and sharper stories that do not only survive tough odds, but saw them coming. 

TL;DR: Skepticism, when played right, is a consultant’s secret weapon. Especially when you surround yourself with people whose optimism keeps the engine running while you keep an eye on the map. Because the real game isn’t about winning once — it’s about playing the infinite series of small ones, knowing full well the odds... and doing it anyway.