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Flawless Consulting
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Flawless Consulting

A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used

Peter Block
Wiley, 1999
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Editorial Rating

8

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  • Applicable

Recommendation

Expert consultant Peter Block’s step-by-step guide details how to become more successful in your client-consultant relationships and practice. Block provides process-relevant checklists and topical illustrations that are particularly useful for people who are new to the trade. His message is clear: Dress down, follow your mind and heart, and build relationships. Being an expert consultant does not require gray suits or smart presentations – the only thing “smart” might be the downloading of checklists to your smartphone. The rest is skill and hard work. getAbstract recommends Block’s clear, applicable approach to consultants, managers, coaches, doctors, teachers and anyone who works individually with clients.

Summary

The Weight of Authenticity

Consulting is a skill that everyone can learn. Your goal is to execute the skill successfully. You may influence an organization as an “internal consultant” in a supporting role, or clients may hire you as an “external consultant” with no direct influence or implementation power. At times, you will find yourself in tense situations, caught between what your client wants and your limited ability to make concrete change happen.

One step toward releasing that tension is to work on your “technical skills,” “interpersonal skills” and “consulting skills.” They will help you when the emotional and relationship aspects of consulting pose other challenges. You might present the perfect implementation plan and still get resistance from your client. You have to decide whether to push for your plan or to let it go. In these moments, you have to trust yourself and your instincts. Trusting yourself is a pivotal asset.

Consultants need more than technique; they must go beyond the factual problems they’re hired to solve and advance to exploring the softer side of client relations. Your ability to offer a program, a process and the right procedures ...

About the Author

Peter Block is a consultant and speaker in organizational development, community building and civic engagement.

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