Lippitt & Lippitt: Chapter 1Consultation: An Expanding Process

Summary by Ivy Li 1.17.99

What is consultation?

Consultation is a two-way interaction: a process of seeking, giving, and receiving help.

Consulting is aimed to mobilize internal and external resources to deal with problem confrontations and change efforts.

The Growing need

There will be an increase in the complexity of problems and the need for integration of different disciplines or sources of expertise.

Needs for help are accelerating faster than the preparation of professional helpers.

Top priority is to recruit and train the nonprofessionals in the skills of helping and supporting as part of the consulting teams.

Intervention Contexts

As consultants, we want to help the clients with the proactive posture of exploring readiness and potential for improvement than just focus on diagnosis of pain.

Some of the intervention contexts include:– downsizing situation

– expansion situation

– decentralization situation

– merger situation

– quality-improvement situation

– demonstration and dissemination situation

Types of Client Systems

Client systems can be a person or a small unit such as a family. It can be a small group such as a team or a staff unit. It can also be a total organizational system, for instance, an agency or a company.

The size of the client system influences: – decisions concerning the credibility and

competencies required of the consultant

– the type and size of consultation design

Contracts and focusesA helping relationship may vary in duration

and sequence, for example:– a one-contract relationship

– a single major contract with a sequence of follow-up supportive relationships

– a defined series of session (e.g. a semester course)

– an indeterminant helping contract

Helping effort may focus on:– functioning of a total system

– one part of the client system

– one function or problem of the client

– relationship between groups

Expanding role of consultants

Develop the skills of co-consultantsIncorporate client representatives into the

consulting teamDevelop facilitators within the client systemEnhance consultant’s flexibility and variety Offer opportunities to young professionals

who want to grow