Being in the consultant role is to be naturally ‘caught’ between the hopes of your client and the challenges of turning those hopes into reality.
The emotional triangle: You . . . your client . . . the results she seeks. How to help without rescuing, without interfering, without over functioning . . . yet not holding back either on what might help her succeed.
The key: discerning where your responsibility ends and her’s begins. Being proactive with your support yet challenging with your interventions to promote what’s required of her to succeed.
Support and challenge: learn the difference, learn the balance, learn how to incorporate both in your practice to increase your influence . . . and the influence of your client to realize her goals.
Learn through theory and hands-on practice . . .
- Contracting for purpose and clarity . . . and influence.
- The action research process to promote more client learning, initiative, and responsibility.
- Productive responses to resistance, your client’s and how to manage your own!
- An assessment tool for continuously improving the consulting process, relationship, and outcome.
*** Employed by staff organizations (HR, IT, QI) to improve consultancy role and competence with senior management.