Course Highlights
The course for internal consultants will:
- Present a framework for identifying issues, crafting data-supported solutions, and evaluating those ideas.
- Provide suggestions and tools for managing stakeholders and facilitating change.
- Guide participants in creating and delivering concise presentations.
Program Overview
A strong internal consulting group can drive improvements across all aspects of a business. From streamlining processes to developing new products and methodologies, internal consultants possess valuable insights into their organizations. This three-part program focuses on essential areas that every internal consultant should navigate, including the project finding and problem-solving process, stakeholder management and communication, and presentation skills.
Segment One Objectives
By the end of this segment, participants should be able to:
- Explain the role of an internal consultant, the required skillset, and common challenges.
- Determine their level of involvement: describing, prescribing, or implementing.
- Describe current and future workstreams.
- Articulate goals and objectives.
- Identify assumptions, knowns, and unknowns.
- Differentiate symptoms from root causes.
- Assess the significance and viability of potential solutions.
- Craft a focused problem statement.
- Build an issue tree.
- Explain the MECE principle.
- Identify solutions and gather supporting data to validate and evaluate their feasibility.
- Formulate hypotheses supported by data.
- Evaluate, select, prioritize, or eliminate solutions.
- Define success criteria and associated measurements.
Segment One Modules
- Establishing a Solid Foundation: Defining the Role, Responsibilities, and Workstreams
- Charting the Course: Articulating Goals, Objectives, and Assumptions
- Distinguishing Symptoms and Root Causes: Confirming Problems
- A Versatile Toolkit: Trees and Other Tools
- Transitioning from Statement to Solutions: Exploring Options
- Assessing and Selecting: Choosing the Right Path
Segment Two Objectives
By the end of this segment, participants should be able to:
- Identify stakeholders involved in a project.
- Determine roles and assemble a team.
- Identify and address any influence or talent gaps.
- Communicate purpose, expectations, boundaries, and other essential information.
- Assess stakeholder influence and buy-in and plan accordingly.
- Use questions to guide thinking.
- Explain the importance of unbiased questioning and neutrality in assessment.
- Select an appropriate communication strategy.
- Determine the level and frequency of communication.
- Socialize ideas and solutions.
- Address common problems and challenges.
Segment Two Modules
- Identifying the Key Players: Stakeholder Identification and Team Roles
- Starting Off on the Right Foot: Communicating Purpose and More
- People Management: Understanding Influence and Attitude
- Guiding with Questions: Thinking Direction and Neutrality
- Following the Plan: Getting Communication Strategy Right
Segment Three Objectives
By the end of this segment, participants should be able to:
- Identify the purpose and goal of a presentation.
- Segment the audience and determine key points for each group.
- Determine the appropriate level of information.
- Choose a framework and identify content pillars.
- Make design decisions based on how the audience will engage with the presentation.
- Use headings to aid audience comprehension.
- Craft impactful slide headlines that convey main messages.
- Eliminate common distractions using a checklist.
- Anticipate questions and prepare supplementary materials.
- Utilize the “this slide is about…, and it’s important because…” framework.
- Simplify complex slides and charts.
- Increase efficiency with templates and story frameworks.
Segment Three Modules
- Expressing the Goal and Purpose: Discovering the Why
- Crafting the Narrative: Developing a Compelling Story
- Communicating Concisely: Using Headlines and Time-Saving Techniques
- Removing Distractions: Enhancing Charts, Graphics, and Text
- Delivering with Impact: Maintaining Focus
- Refining and Repeating: Creating Templates and Frameworks
By the conclusion of this three-part course, participants should be equipped to explain the role of internal consultants, navigate an engagement framework, manage relationships, and deliver concise presentations.