|
|
Collaborative Consulting Community- Background and Rationale
Read and tell us what you think.....
Traditionally business development consultants, or business coaches, have operated at either end of a continuum.
At one end, the consultant is a “lone wolf” seeking clients through personal or professional networks, some cold calling or referrals, and very much selling on the personal skills and experiences he or she can bring to the prospect. Once engaged in client work, the consultant uses processes they have had success with in the past and attempts to customise whatever solutions are available in their (albeit limited) experience to suit the situation.
The limitations are that, operating alone, the consultant will necessarily be constrained by their own experiences and attitudes. Stand alone consultants are not stretched in their thinking or willing to risk a new or non-mainstream technique for fear of failure or ridicule.
At the other end of the continuum a consultant is part of a large organisation, be it as a franchisee, an employee or as the operator of a license. A process is followed and a “cookie cutter” approach utilised. The client is taken through a rigorous and prescriptive series of assessments and solutions are applied. The ultimate expression is the American approach where a different person will book an appointment with a prospect, a second will undertake the meeting and engage for the consultation and another again will take the client through a business development programme.
The consultant does not deviate from the company approach for fear of losing professional support and personal credibility. The client will get outcomes limited by short sighted and “in the box” thinking.
Note that in both cases fear is a motivating factor in the approach.
Tell us what you think.
Is the rationale correct?
What features or principles would benefit you as a consultant?
Comment
|
|
|
|