Core consultancy skills

Specialist or technical skills are not sufficient by themselves to be effective as a consultant. This course covers the additional processes and skills that are vital if you are to deliver real value to clients.

This practical introduction to well proven consultancy techniques will enhance the skills and confidence of newcomers to the profession. More experienced practitioners have also found it invaluable for brushing up their basic skills, getting a fresh insight into effective approaches and renewed confidence in their ability.

By the end of the course you will also have:

• A clearer understanding of the skills a consultant requires to carry out a project
• The confidence and persuasiveness needed to successfully present your proposals and recommendations
• The basic techniques for dealing with change and the ability to recognise, understand and respond to the issues it raises
• Skills to present yourself to best effect

The course follows a consultancy assignment based around a case study with an intensive series of exercises based on the CONSULT process designed to evaluate and develop participants’ thought processes as well as testing your skills. The exercises follow the CONSULT delivery process. Delegates receive feedback on the quality of their work during regular review sessions. Each session has input on the underpinning skills, as well as opportunities to practice them.

• The CONSULT process
• Entry: situation appraisal; positioning yourself with the client; influencing clients
• Contracting: managing client relationships; defining terms of reference
• Contracting: assignment management;– working in teams
• Diagnosis: problem solving; data collection; assessing the readiness for change; solution generation
• Intervention: developing recommendations; managing change; reporting to clients
• Closure and action planning

• This course is regularly presented as part of our programme of public courses
• It is also often run by clients as an in-house programme
• When run as an in-house programme, it can be delivered on a non-residential basis over three separate days

For those who want to concentrate on delivery skills, take our Core Consultancy Skills course plus the additional distance learning module. Successful completion of the exam at the end of this should enable you to get a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Professional Consulting (QCF). There is an additional cost of £900 plus VAT for the distance learning element.