Core Consulting Skills

Course Outcomes/Benefits of Attending:




In this course we will explore options, develop essential skills, and practice different styles associated with effective client-centred consulting, building your confidence and capability in the process. By the end of this course you will be able to:




Maximise your performance on a consultancy assignment




Apply your knowledge and understanding of the stages of the Consultancy Process Model, and be able to carryout the key activities, both task and process associated with each stage




Deliver the required outputs of each stage of the Consultancy Process Model




Apply your knowledge and understanding of a range of basic tools and techniques to assist at each stage, be able to state the pros and cons of each one and will have used several in client simulated situations




Apply your knowledge and understanding of the human dimensions of the consultancy relationship




Build rapport and trust, establish your credibility and psychological contracts with their clients




Establish and build commitment to change during the consultancy assignment




Apply your knowledge and understanding of the need to feedback and challenge client perceptions to ensure change progress


Manage the process of skills and knowledge transfer to the client to ensure learning takes place


Ensure that the client takes effective action beyond the consultancy project to fully sustain the benefits realised on the assignment


Apply their preferences for working as an individual and as part of a team and understand the differences between these and those of others




Carry out your responsibilities as a consultant in the areas of:


- leadership


- client relationship management


- people motivation and development


- sales




Apply your knowledge and understanding of different team roles and ways of ensuring the skills of the team are maximised




Plan, carry out and review the effectiveness of your consulting interventions.




The Learning Experience:




A highly participative course where participants will experiment with a range of approaches and draw on each others' experiences. With a mixture of tutor input, plenary discussions, syndicate exercises and self-assessment questionnaires, each used to develop deeper understand of the issues facing consultants as they attempt to undertake consultancy assignments.




Participants will also have the opportunity, through the use of CCTV and the self assessment questionnaires to monitor the changes in their skills and behaviour - towards effective consultancy skills/interventions - during the course. The course also involves participants working through an interactive 'live' consultancy project.




There is an emphasis on participative exploration. A handbook of best practice guidelines together with a set of 'learning helpcards' supplement this course and are also provided.




Programme Outline:




The structure of the programme can vary to meet the particular needs of the group. The most effective structure is a modular one based on the principles of action learning. In outline the course programme consists:




Setting the Scene: What constitutes effective consulting




The role of the consultant




Making a Good Start (I): Key planning activities




Making a Good Start (II): Gaining Entry - Objective Setting and Contracting, Developing Client Trust, Establishing Rapport and Your Credibility




Ensuring Success (I): Commercial planning/management




Ensuring Success (II): Understanding teams




Ensuring Success (III): Your role as a leader




Diagnosis - Understanding the real problem




Visioning - Establishing the change needed




Planning - Developing and refining plans to implement the solution




Implementation & Review - Delivering & Evaluating that the benefits are realised and sustained




Managing the Client: Framework of four major types of client relationship




Maintaining good client relationships




Review and Post Assignment Evaluation




Action Planning the application of the programme learning




Establishing follow-up learning needs.




Who Should Attend:




Any one new to consulting or those undertaking an internal change consultant role.




Course Duration:




The programme is of five day’s duration.




Number of Participants:




At OTT Consulting we believe in providing a suitable ratio of 'trainers to participants' to maximise everyone's ability to learn. We have therefore designed all our courses to accommodate 6 participants as the optimum number of participants. Where required we are happy to alter the course to accommodate more or less participants.