Internal Consulting Skills
Audience: HR, OD, IT, Marketing, Communication
Format & duration: From 2 days to 4 days over 6 months
Internal consultants are required to influence, add value or improve the functioning of other groups on the basis of their specialist expertise, and do so without direct line authority. By definition, internal consulting services are non-core to the primary task of their organisations. While viewed as offering significant benefits, these are intangible in nature and can require clients to step outside their own arenas of competence and confidence. At the heart of consulting from the inside is the ability to navigate a complex range of rational and irrational forces, or push/pull dynamics exerted from the system which both wants the results consulting promises but without the disruption or personal investment – to be able to craft a unique quality of authority, identity and engagement and connection with stakeholders.
At Inhere, we believe the mastery of consulting roles is akin to mastering the ability to deploy leadership – it too requires a sophisticated mix of self-insight and self-care, client relationship management, systems thinking and technical expertise.
This program can be modified for a single organisation group such as Human Resources (HR), a mix of internal functions (IT, HR, Finance) or for an open program with consultants from across different organisations and disciplines. Subjects can include:
- Stepping into the consultant role
- Consultant as collaborator
- Consultants tool kit
- Emotions, power and authority
- Consultant self-care
Deep Resilience
Audience: Leaders and those involved in social and organisational change and development work
Format & duration: Stand alone retreats and day programs
Thanks to the rise of Emotional Intelligence, Positive Psychology and Adaptive Leadership thinking in the last decade, we are now seeing the concepts of psychological wellbeing, flexibility and resilience as a legitimate part of professional development. Self-care is key to thriving in the complex dynamics of group life for all roles, and we know first-hand and from our clients, those of us leading adaptive challenges in organisations or the community must endure unique pressures, overcome resistance and even at times become targets of overt malcontent. How do we continue to do good work, to continue to walk the path of leaderful action without undue negative impact personally or having to withdraw or limit our visions and contributions? How to stay in the game and thrive?
Deep Resilience goes beyond mainstream thinking of resilience to deeper frameworks of personal and professional sustainability in the modern world of leadership. This offering is in a range of programs delivered by local and international practitioners and include topics such as:
- What are we called to do and why?
- Ways of looking at ourselves and our work
- Creating our inner sanctuary
- Mindfulness in action
- Ego and its seductions
- Intervening with and holding the client
Optimising Client Value through Relationships
Audience: Intact teams or open programs for professionals, community groups and small business owners. Maximum 12 participants
Format & duration: 8 x 4 hour sessions over 6 months
The nature of our relationships with our clients colours almost every thing we think, feel and experience about our roles. Stronger, more robust relationships with clients are ones characterised by authentic, respectful and open communication. A trusted connection with clients enables us to address difficult issues early and honestly, to pick up on differences before it festers and ultimately to bring our full capacities to bear in our work for the clients benefit. Contrast this with weak client relationships where you feel you are being constantly second guessed, criticized or the client is being unrealistic or indecisive – leaving you feeling anxious, mistrustful and insecure.
This practical, action learning based program introduces key frameworks for building healthy relationships with clients from commencement until conclusion of your engagement. Participants will work interactively to address real life case studies and apply the lenses of topics such as;
- Mapping clients relationships
- Setting up the relationship
- Understanding your offer
- Understand client value
- Contracting
- Difficult client conversations
Coaching Skills
Audience: Leaders, either from a single organisation or multiple in open program format
Format & duration: 2 day program or 5 x half day over 4 months
Introducing the fundamentals of coaching, this program also addresses how to establish a coaching culture. Once again with a focus of working with real time case studies, participants build a rapid appreciation of how to apply different types of coaching appropriately to different workplace contexts while honing the micro-skills for effective coaching.