So it has taken a few classes, but I think I get this process consulting concept. Two weeks ago, I thought Block was wrong in his assessment that each step throughout the consulting intervention should be 50/50. That didn't make since to me. I thought about it from the 35,000 feet approach and said, maybe it could be 50/50 as a whole and that some accepts of the project would be more client and others more consultant. That really doesn't work either. I think the point that Block makes is that the project or intervention is just as much the client's as it is the consultants.
Take for example the time my division enlisted the help of a consultant. We spent about $25,000 for this individual to audit our back end processes. What was interesting is we spent all that money for the guy to tell us what we already knew. I don't discount what the gentleman does, but his approach was not so much to really us, but rather affirm what we knew. Knowing a little bit more about Block and understanding that to achieve a satisfactory result, a full investment from both parties is essential.
In this specific example, you can see that neither the client or the consultant had very much of a clue as to an end result. For $25,000 I could have said the same thing. What we needed on our team (client) was an individual with a good understanding of process consulting or a consultant who could help us help ourselves. I think that's what Block is trying to get at is working with the client to help them solve an issue. I love it when the light goes on upstairs.
“What I’ve Learned about Organizational Change”
13 years ago
Yes, the appealing thing about process consulting is that you are there precisely to help the clients help themselves. I think we have all seen in personal relationships that when a friend comes to you for advice on a situation, very often they are really needing guidance on a whole different topic. The problem is that they are likely not aware of this underlying need and we, as the helper, are often all too quick to offer surface advice and never delve deeper.
ReplyDeleteHad your $25,000 been well-versed in process consultation he may have uncovered situations and information that would have been of great use to you.
I think sometimes we can be too close to a situation and we can not see the whole issue. Consultants are brought in from the outside to assist organizations from a different perspective. This is the same case when organizations look outside of the organization to hire fresh blood. They are looking for new perspectives. Up until now, I always frowned upon organizations wanting to look outside first before looking inside. I now can totally relate to thier hopes for new ideas, innovation, inspiration, etc.
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