Internal Consulting

"The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself."

-Oscar Wilde

Internal Consulting is a topic and approach that is near and dear to our hearts. We believe the consulting process is one that reaps far more rewards than any other approach and, because we are passionate about it, we want to share our experiences and lessons learned.

Using a consultative approach often is a significant reorientation in the way business is done for most staff functions. Making the successful transition to consulting often requires substantial learning and change on the part of staff personnel. It also requires an effective communication plan to assist internal customers to understand and accept the redefined roles and responsibilities. We have found that by exploring the mission and identity challenges, and choosing the right strategy, the transition can be very successful.

Because of the cultural implications and the magnitude of the change this may represent in some organizations, we have a customized approach to provide assistance in not only learning consulting skills, but in problem solving and coaching. Customers may pick and choose depending on the amount of assistance needed to make the transition to internal consulting.

We believe there are three critical success factors involved in implementing internal consulting in any organization. They are:

1. mission and strategy
2. consulting skills
3. business planning and marketing

1. Mission and Strategy

The need to build understanding and support for the concept of internal consulting is often a concern for our customers. That is why our package offers facilitated sessions on direction and strategy to enable participants to formulate a new mission and vision, and build alignment with the new direction. Our strategy planning sessions focus on mission and direction clarification and enrollment of those in the role. They can also include strategic exploration of operational implications and creating a plan for dealing with them. Addressing these issues thoroughly contributes greatly to the staff's readiness to apply the skills and principles of consulting as they learn and practice them in the next phase of our process.

Consulting requires new skills and thinking. The purpose of our Internal Consulting Workshop is to help participants acquire and practice consulting skills and techniques including strategies for managing the client-consultant relationship. Specifically, the workshop enables participants to:

• Learn the stages of consulting from entry to disengagement;
• Understand the roles a consultant plays and when each is appropriate;
• Qualify and contract with clients;
• Diagnose problems; and
• Know when and how to define interventions.

We have found the best way to learn is by doing. Our three-day Internal Consulting Workshop is a hands-on, action-learning approach that assists participants to understand consulting and learn important consulting skills.

Participants are given the opportunity to work on their own cases. Two or three actual situations provide an opportunity for our experienced consultants to "coach" participants as they work through their client situations. They can hold an "Entry" meeting with their client and come back for more coaching before proceeding through the diagnosis and intervention stages. Our consultants are available as needed to coach participants through these "solo flights".

3. Business Planning and Marketing

Finally, our customers often express concern about how to sell, or market, the consulting concept to their internal customers. Our consultants, in facilitated workshops, help staff organizations through their business planning efforts. Participants identify their products and services and identify strategies to market themselves within their organizations.

Coaching

Our consultants are experienced in both internal and external consulting, in both private and public sectors. We are happy to offer on-going coaching for your internal consultants as they begin practicing.