Consulting on the Inside, 2nd Ed.: A Practical Guide for Internal Consultants

Are you an internal consultant--a staff member who serves in a consultative role within your organization? Then you need this hands-on guidebook to help you better understand your role and improve your performance.Whether you're a change agent, trusted advisor, or someone who serves in varying capacities, it's important to design your job, develop a formal agreement, and build your practice.Consulting on the Inside provides a solid background for internal consultants and serves as a roadmap for cultivating a successful career. You'll learn how to: - maintain an outsider's objectivity while applying an insider's knowledge of the organization- build relationships but be up-front about challenges and issues- design your role to fit the client's needs and the organizational situation- handle roadblocks and deal effectively with difficult clients- market your consulting services within the client organization.You'll find a thorough examination of the eight phases of the consulting process, a comprehensive analysis of the differences between internal and external consultants, and success stories demonstrating the personal qualities you need to build trust and relationships. Consulting on the Insidealso provides a complete toolbox for getting the job done, including tips and techniques, checklists, forms, a sample hiring agreement, and ready-to-use agendas.With this book in your hands, you'll be able to apply your expertise, influence and personal skills to multiple roles within your organization, and balance the tension between being an insider and needing to give honest, direct feedback to your colleagues. As an internal consultant with a well-founded practice, you can provide competent, collaborative advice to help solve problems, improve performance, and increase your organization's effectiveness.

Author: Beverly Scott, B. Kim Barnes
Publisher: ASTD
Published: 04/01/2011
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.90h x 6.90w x 0.70d
ISBN: 9781562867454

About the Author
Beverly Scott has served as both an internal and external consultant in a wide range of organizations for more than 35 years, including 15 years as director of organization and management development for McKesson. Her background includes master's degrees in sociology and human resource development, and she has completed her doctoral coursework. Scott is a speaker and facilitator for many professional associations and has taught organizational psychology at John F. Kennedy University. She resides in San Francisco. B. Kim Barnes is co-founder and CEO of Barnes & Conti Associates, a global leadership development firm based in Berkeley, California. She holds a master's degree in human development and has more than 35 years of experience, including external and internal consulting roles with organizations in a broad range of industries. Barnes is a popular speaker and seminar leader worldwide, and she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.