#BusinessEssentials - Consulting without the answer

I was asked today about the impact we have on clients as consultants in these times. So as I was speaking I felt it worthwhile sharing these thoughts more broadly.

There were a couple of key points I made;

1. Story Telling - Usually - as many would know from meeting me or having me in their midst - I use story telling as a way of creating the story as we set upon our voyage to where you want to take your business. What I identified this past few weeks is that the story telling of the past carries no weight. Usually they are being told to draw comparison to past events with clear outcomes for the client. In the current climes the story telling only works when it relates to the way they managed a previous challenge - clearly differing scales - however it moves them to think clearly about the way they handled the challenge and the strength they drew upon. So the learning is I and my team need to ensure that the work we do right now is focused on relevant triggers that give the client something to use in real time - not a comparative story that at the moment is not as meaningful to them. Less distraction and more clarity is what they seek and what we are giving them.
2. No Solution - as a strategist and someone while draws distinctions between a strategic outcome and the tactics we apply to reach it - by virtue we are problem solving. I have identified again at present that clients are needing to simply sound off about how they are feeling, the processes they are going through in their heads and what the future may or may not hold for them and their family and business. So the balance I have found is providing calm advice and support as well as simply listening even more intently.
3. Detailed information - Consistent messaging is always important in creating a support mechanism for all clients current and past. This time I have found that ensuring they have the right detail around themselves - they are listening to the right people, securing the right government information that directly relates to them and that we are drilling into the education gap that may be papered over in more usual times.

This is not the most usual of times for any of us - the day to day close contact we retain with each other, ensuring you have someone to turn to no matter the challenge, the assurance we can gain from calm interventions and the painting of big pictures with little pictures allows comfort to be drawn from everyday personal interactions - no matter the digital medium employed.