Expert Role | Pair-of-Hands Role | Collaborative Role |
I have neither the time nor the inclination to deal with this problem. You’re the expret; find out what’s wrong and fix it. You have a free hand to examine the operation and do whatever analysis is necessary. Keep me posted on our findings and what you intend to do. | I have neither the time nor the inclination to deal with this problem. i have examined the deficiencies and have prepared an outline of what needs to be done. I want you to get it done as soon as possible. | |
The manager elects to play an inactive role. | The consultant takes a passive role. | The consultant and manager work to become interdependent. |
Decisions on how to proceed are made by the consultant, on the basis of his or her expert judgment. | Decisions on how to proceed are made by the manager. | Decision making is bilateral. |
Information needed for problem analysis is gathered by the consultant. | The manager selects methods for data collection and analysis. | Data collection and analysis are joint efforts. |
Technical control rests with the consultant. | Control rests with the manager. | Control issues become matters for discussion and negotiation. |
Collaboration is not required. | Collaboration is not really necessary. | Collaboration is considered essential. |
Two-way communication is limited. | Two-way communication is limited. | Communication is two-way. |
The consultant plans and implements the main events. | The manager specifies change procedures for the consultant to implement. | Implementation responsibilities are determined by discussion and agreement. |
The manager’s role is to judge and evaluate after the fact. | The manager’s role is to judge and evaluate from a close distance. | |
The consultant’s goal is to solve the immediate problem. | The consultant’s goal is to make the system more effective by the application of specialized knowledge. | The consultant’s goal is to solve problems so they stay solved. |
Challenges | ||
in a climate of fear/mistrust, consultant might not get what they want/need.recommendations carry no sense of ownership for the client. | Inappropriate assessment by manager means implementation will be flawed.Managers prefering this role for consultants see collaboration as questioning managers authority, experience, or both. | Those preferring expert see this as foot dragging.Those who prefer pair-of-hands see this as insubordination. |
Source: Peter Block’s Flawless Consulting, pp. 21-27, based on Ed Shein’s Process Consulting Revisited: Building the Helping Relationship. |