In this episode Ray (Chief Learner) and Amy (Chief Question Asker) talk about the NEW name, NEW focus and NEW direction for the podcast:

We feel the consultant school:

• More accurately reflects the conversations and tools that are shared. 
• Ray is a born educator and we heard from our listeners that the podcast felt like attending a class. (in the best way!)

Power of Questions:

• Help us know what we didn’t know that we knew. 
• The way we learn

Heart of Consulting is Learning To Ask:

•  What do I have to learn?  
• What do my clients need to learn?

What can The Consultant School listeners expect?

• Learn from Ray’s 40 plus year of work as a consultant.
• Discussions about the questions that have emerged that have yet been answered.  
• Identifying new understanding and tools.
• Become a part of a larger community of learning.

TOOLS & TIP FOR CONSULTANTS (from this episode):

• Organize meetings (board meetings, team meetings or family meetings) around questions.  When meetings are organized around questions it creates (and invites) people into thoughtful conversations and engagement that they might not have otherwise considered with a bullet point list. 

• Every conflict is an opportunity.  
• Approach conflict with the questions: 
  • What do I have to learn from this conflict? 
  • What does my client have to learn from this conflict? 

• TO/WITH Framework

• • When we approach clients with a “to” mindset we make them into objects
  • When we approach clients with a “with” mindset we build a relationship that is dynamic and humble.
  • No one has all the answers and a “with” mindset sets a tone that we are learning and exploring with our clients. 

• The Role of a Consultant

• • (with) Come alongside organizational leadership to address their challenges, seize the opportunities and navigate the change. 
  • (with) The most successful consultants view their role as helping the one in charge. 
  • The consultant gives help, insight, and knowledge to the leaders and lets them use it how they see fit. The consultant doesn’t set out to control the outcome. 

The Consultant Question:

• What questions do you need to ask yourself? 

• What do you know that you need to be aware of, and what do you need to do with that knowledge?