“The relation between what we see and what we know is never settled…Yet the knowledge, the explanation, never quite fits the sight.” John Berger. Ways of Seeing

Practical Seminar Series for Organisational Change: 28 June 2018
Locating and Positioning Ourselves as Consultants for Organisational Change.

The confirmation of successfully winning a piece of work can transform an ordinary telephone conversation or email into a moment of celebration. However, these moments of pleasure at the start of a new project or piece of work can turn into an assignment that is frustrating, requires exceptional client management skills and is heavily negotiated.

There are many unspoken questions and expectations that lay dormant under the invitation to enter a system. Thinking systemically, we understand that our very presence on entering an organisation creates movement both conscious and unconscious; for the client and for the consultant. The process of recognising and navigating the entry process is a complex one and can provoke a number of thoughts, feelings and questions. What do they really need?; Can I deliver?; Will they be willing to hear the truth about the system?; I hope this piece of work goes well?; and many more. These are all important and valuable questions to be asking at the beginning of a project.

The purpose of this seminar is to offer opportunities to make sense of how we enter systems, create change, how we progress through it, what sort of work comes our way, and how we can influence what we take on. Different positions or perspectives can provide ways to notice and understand the differences between ourselves, our colleagues and our clients, especially as these sometimes subtle shifts are clear at the time of entry, contracting, review and design.

We may consciously draw our consulting perspective from within a specific project, sector, and methodology. We may also unconsciously draw it from previous projects, jobs and/or positions. Inevitably, the realties of organisational change can make us alert to the challenges or opportunities that exist within the range of individuals and systems that we encounter. The challenge is how to respond to them. In this seminar, we will provide time and space to think through where we fit within the wide territory that is the consulting industry.

This Practical Seminar will be run by Jean Neumann and Coreene Archer. For more information about the day and to book your place, please see here.

If you have specific questions about the seminar please contact Rachel Kelly; r.kelly@tavinstitute.org.