Consulting Process Skills

Jocelyn L. Walter

Skills for effective consulting

Technical skills Interpersonal and communication skills Consulting process skills ability to understand the consulting process in solving business problems

Consulting Process Skills

Consulting requires certain skills that are unique to the industry problem solving and understanding of the consulting process. It requires skills to: examine the organization, understand the individuals and departments, assess the nature of power and politics, sift through the maze of detailed information, separate the causes from symptoms, isolate the important factors; and

use related business practices and creativity to suggest innovative solutions

Process consists of four areas: (Cabrera)

1. Problem definition phase This phase has the purpose of fully describing the underlying problem. It begins with the initial recognition of a symptom pointing to the problem and ends with the complete description of the problem.

2. Identification of Alternative Solutions This is described as the fact finding and analysis phase which involves the gathering of facts needed to solve the problem and analyzing these fact in order to clarify the requirements of the best solution.

3. Selection of the most desirable alternative (solution development phase) This involves the selection of the optimal solution to the problem and developing a detailed plan of action. 4. Presentation

5. Implementation phase This phase has the purpose of putting the detailed plan into operation and should be the least difficult to do if the previous phases have been performed well.

Consulting Skills for Managers

Creativity to find new solutions and new options Good communication skills of all kinds Respect for clients, confidentiality and culture Vision to see possibilities beyond the obvious Partnership in working with clients or customers - both internal and external Leadership in setting an example for others to follow Flexibility in facilitating change or adapting to changing needs.

Ten Consulting Process

1. Entry. The process starts by someone asking for your help. The client or customer could be an internal customer or someone who reports to you who needs your help. Contract. This step involves defining what you will do. You must be clear about your role in the process of finding a solution, what steps are involved, determining how much time it will take and how much it will cost (if appropriate).

2.

3.

Data Collection. The next step is gathering all the facts needed, contacting people who may provide more information and organizing that information.

4. Analysis. This step involved transforming data into information and searching for key items that provide clues to a solution to the original problem identified by the client.
5. Feedback. This step gives an update to your client on what you have found so far. At this point, you do not yet have a solution to the problem but your client needs to know your data collection method and the results of that process. 6. Alternatives. This is where your vision, leadership and creativity are most used. You use vision to see beyond the information you have collected and use your creativity to develop new possibilities.

7. Decision. This step often involves several people, so again communication is important. Use your communication skills to present the alternatives. 8. Action. This where the results of all the other steps are executed. Communication is important in letting people know the decision and what is expected of them.
9. Evaluation. This step looks back at the entire process and reviews what happened, what lessons were learned and what might be done differently in future situations. 10. Exit. This step is the official end to a project

Thank You