April 16, 2012
By Lonnie Pacelli
So let’s cut to the chase…
You may be a great consultant, one who effectively applies his or her wisdom and experience to help his or her client solve some tough business problem. That’s all fine and well. When it comes to facilitation, though, it’s a different ballgame and a very different approach to problem solving. I like to think of the difference as follows:
Great consultants advise clients on how to solve problems.
Great facilitators help clients solve their own problems.
So, can a great consultant be a great facilitator? Absolutely. I’ve known some outstanding consultants who were extremely effective facilitators. But it’s wrong to assume that just because you are a great consultant you will automatically be a great facilitator. Some are self-aware and know not to dip a toe in the facilitation pool. Many, though, assume that they know how to facilitate solutions and end up in a crash-and-burn situation with their client.
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