Tips for Effective Performance Consulting

Learning leaders can follow these recommendations to be good performance consultants in their organizations.

• Avoid being an order-taker. Never assume training is the solution to a problem. Instead, collect data to identify the true need.
• Develop your ability to identify issues, define roles, communicate solutions and obstacles, negotiate solutions, define and measure success, and provide and receive feedback. Being a good performance consultant also requires strong .
• Manage relationships. Depending on the circumstances, you may be working with a stakeholder or with a person who reports to a stakeholder. The ability to work well with both roles is essential to good performance consulting.
• Be an active listener. Listen to learners and business partners. Listen for information and to develop a better understanding of needs. Listen both to what they’re saying and how they’re saying it. Show that you’re listening with your body language, ask follow-up questions and don’t make quick judgments.
• Measure and report results. Data informs more productive conversations with stakeholders and helps you make decisions on learning strategy now and in the future.