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  • Wednesday, April 22, 2020 8:00 AM | Jennifer Miller

    Edgar Schein is a retired professor from MIT and national legend in the field of process consulting. He first codified and described this iterative, adaptive form of consulting in 1969 as author of Process Consultation: Its Role in Organization Development. Yes, that is more than 50 years ago.  

    One of our members, Lon Swartzentruber, Executive Process Consultant, and CEO of Design Group International, approached "Ed" with a sense of curiosity: "I wonder what would happen if I reached out to him? Would he respond? What would we talk about?" So, Lon tracked down the address, wrote a letter and mailed it off not knowing what to expect. 

    Remarkably, Ed responded quickly and scheduled a call to find out who this curious person was and why he was so passionate about process consulting.  

    I recently interviewed Lon about this incredible experience, his key takeaways, and reminders of why, what and how we do consulting. Lon shared these nuggets of wisdom:

    • The value of lifelong learning. Even in his 90's Ed Schein wants to keep learning and during his conversations would often pose powerful questions back to Lon. He's curious, too, about the adoption of process consulting by people across the country.
    • The importance of not being "seduced" into using your own technical expertise – instead follow the principles of process consulting, including humble inquiry, accessing your ignorance, and honoring the client's wisdom.
    • Know the fundamentals. Lon shared an analogy about Pete Rose and the Philadelphia Phillies - listen to the interview for this creative comparison to being a great consultant. 
    • Don’t rob the client of power in the process. They own the problem and solution and if you take that away you are not really helping.

    Download the interview and see what lessons you gain to help your process consulting practice. Special thanks to Lon for this contribution.

    - Kim Stezala



  • Wednesday, April 01, 2020 8:00 AM | Jennifer Miller

    As all of us continue to cope with the realities of social distancing and the closure of major institutions due to the  COVID-19 crisis, there is hope through the recently passed CARES Act.  

    Through this act, the federal government has included financial assistance to small businesses, sole proprietors, self-employed individuals and independent contractors, specifically in a provision called the “Paycheck Protection Program” which is essentially a small business loan and loan forgiveness program.

    Many Society members and the clients we serve may qualify under the guidelines, however, financial institutions are still learning more about how this program will be implemented. For instance, the guidance is not clear on how people who don’t receive a traditional paycheck would provide salary and wage verification in the loan application or proof of payments to oneself during the loan repayment period.  The rules are clearer for “gig” workers who receive a 1099 from one entity (from Uber or Lyft, for instance) and could apply for unemployment the same as a W-2 worker would.

    Important dates to consider:

    April 3 – applications open for small businesses (including non-profit organizations) and sole proprietors

    April 10 – applications open for independent contractors and self-employed individuals.

    We wanted to share this basic information below with direct links. While the Society cannot offer financial or legal advice, we can share these resources with you.

    Information about who qualifies for what:
    https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/guide-to-the-cares-act

    Information on loan terms and a sample application.
    https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-program-ppp

    We wish everyone good health and best wishes for continued success.

    - Kim Stezala



  • Thursday, March 26, 2020 8:00 AM | Jennifer Miller

    Extra time on your hands due to the Covid-19 crisis? Unsure of your future employment or consulting situation? 

    Try our special Fast-Track Process Consulting 101 course. The condensed course is only $1,500 (normally $2,200), with the same content as our regular PCT101 AND you earn Certified Process Consultant status. It’s all online with personal guides/mentors to help propel you forward.  You will learn:
    • How process consulting is different
    • How to build your consulting pipeline and ecosystem
    • The art of creating client agreements
    • The elements of a strong business plan

    Register now - starts APRIL 1 or APRIL 3 – your choice!

    - Kim Stezala



  • Friday, February 28, 2020 8:00 AM | Jennifer Miller

    As process consultants we often facilitate client meetings, so it is easy to fall into familiar patterns that begin to feel mundane. In need of a bit of inspiration to change the routine, I was happy to discover Priya Parker’s book The Art of Gathering: How we meet and why it matters. There are two concepts that struck me as particularly useful.

    The first is the idea of “pop-up rules” for meetings, social gatherings, dinners, etc., to ensure that all participants are operating from the same set of rules, and to not assume how people will interact or behave. Parker suggests that the host should establish some rules at meetings. For instance, at a social gathering a rule might be “no talking about your job” or “the first person to pick up their phone pays the bill.” For a business meeting, a rule might be “people in the same department can’t sit next to each other.”

    The other concept somewhat contradicts my values, so I imagine I will have a harder time implementing it. Parker asserts that in our quest for inclusion, we possibly overlook the importance of EXclusion in who should attend a gathering; we are driven by the fear of leaving someone out or being accused of exclusionary practices. I really had to think about this. Part of process consulting is to be iterative and inclusive. We strive to define the “who,” as in who needs to be in the room, why they should participate, what they will contribute or gain, and how they will be engaged. Some take inclusion to the extreme and invite everybody but we have all experienced sitting in a meeting and wondering “Why am I here?” the whole time wishing we were somewhere else. Parker also gives suggestions on how to handle the inclusion/exclusion dilemma in social settings, which can be just as crucial to client relations as a formal board meeting.

    If you are intrigued by Parker’s ideas, I suggest viewing her 10-minute Ted Talk at https://www.priyaparker.com/. Her courageous facilitation of a “cage-match” style argument about the future vision of a company will make you glad you took the time to watch it. I know I am.

    - Kim Stezala



  • Tuesday, August 06, 2019 8:00 AM | Jennifer Miller

    I had a wonderful interview with Kay Edwards, founder and CEO of Outsight Network, who described the upcoming Fearless Weekend. To find out what to expect, please listen to the attached recording of our conversation. It's only 12 minutes long, and those 12 minutes could be what it takes for you to choose to come be fearless with us! We'd love to have you join us for the retreat by Lake Michigan in October; visit the event calendar on our homepage to register. Listen to the recording now.

    - Hallie Knox


  • Thursday, June 20, 2019 8:00 AM | Jennifer Miller

    Do you ever feel like you are stuck? You have an idea but you aren't sure if there is a market for it or you are not sure if the format or price point is correct. Do you have an old presentation that needs a refresh? Need to pivot but not sure how or where?

    As an idea person I spend a lot of time thinking about these things but with a full workload I usually just put them in my "idea folder" (yes, I have one of those) to be unearthed at some undisclosed date in the distant future. Let's face it - it takes time and attention to be creative and nurture our ideas. Which got us to thinking...how could we help members and hold space for this to happen?

    The Society for Process Consulting is collaborating with Outsight Network to craft an event for consultants, thought leaders and business owners to spend quality time together, helping each other, while innovating, networking and improving our own businesses or organizations.

    We invite you to join us at Fearless Weekend on 12 October 2019. We are offering this retreat to help members step out of the office or out of the field and dig deep into building ideas, skills and relationships, all while recharging your mindset in a beautiful location along the bluffs of Lake Michigan. Download the flier below for more information or visit hereEarly bird registration ends 30 June 2019 - that is also the deadline to submit your proposal to share your idea. P.S. We won't choose the presenters - registered participants will!

    - Kim Stezala



  • Wednesday, May 08, 2019 8:00 AM | Jennifer Miller

    As a process consultant, sometimes it is difficult to not step in and solve the problem for a client. Sure, I bring a level of expertise in my field and in facilitation, but I am NOT the expert in that leader’s or that organization’s culture – THEY are. 

    This revelation is apparent when conversing with Sandra Quick, a 30+ year educator extraordinaire with street cred to match, who is the instructor for our next course:  Building Capacity for Cultural Congruence (BCCC)

    Options for cultural competence training abound, but this course is specifically for CONSULTANTS who CARE about navigating the seen, unseen and behind-the-scenes cultural forces and interplay within any given organization. 

    The BCCC course also offers participants a reality check about their own cultural assumptions and how that affects the consultative “helping” relationship. Are you stepping on toes? Encouraging neediness? Building co-dependency? Assuming you know the cultural nuances? To build a better practice, we as consultants must constantly adapt, learn and challenge ourselves, ultimately, to benefit the client.

    Sandra says it best: “Cultural competence assists in understanding your own cultural values, beliefs, opinions and feelings. The practice of acknowledging and accepting others’ differences is paramount to understanding the dynamics of difference.  Developing and adapting your skills from learned cultural knowledge will lead to cultural advocacy. Cultural congruence is the ability to adapt practiced skills to fit the cultural context of the client being served.”

    Are you ready to up your game as a culturally competent consultant?  To learn more about the instructor or register for BCCC, which starts May 15th,  click here

    - Kim Stezala



  • Monday, January 07, 2019 8:00 AM | Jennifer Miller

    Perhaps you remember the Consultick from the Dilbert cartoon. This funny and all too painful caricature of the consulting profession is the antithesis of what we do and is what drives the idea of process consulting. Rather than sell, tell and disappear as a consultick might do or trade on what may have worked elsewhere, the idea of process consulting is to work with client-defined and client-owned objectives, taking the risk of learning together.

    Process consulting, as enshrined in the work of folks like Peter Block and Edgar Schein, is the central commitment of the Society for Process Consulting, now offering a professional community and credential that rises to the highest of consulting standards and ethics.

    I got started in this field in 1989. In 2001, we established Design Group International  as a community of practice for people with deep expertise and a commitment to work beside their clients to meet client-defined objectives rather than to bleed them.

    As this community grew we discovered there was no consistent training for professionals, and no standards-bearing organization to keep raising the quality of process consultants. We wanted this for those who joined our community of practice. As a result the Society for Process Consulting was born and placed under the capable direction of Kim Stezala.

    We look forward to the day—and believe it possible—that CEOs will expect consultants they retain to be co-learners with them, and to follow the standards set by the Society for Process Consulting.

    -mark l vincent



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