Michael Communications & Training Consultants
With unparalleled experience, business insight and a no nonsense approach, the consultants
at Michael Communications can show you how to become a better communicator in all
aspects of your business.
A modern, independent communications consultancy, programmes and projects are tailored
to meet clients’ needs. Michael Communications is the communications consultancy
of choice for clients who require dynamic and creative communications services.
Michael Communications & Training Consultants have been advising and training thousands
of professionals and hundreds of organisations.
A market leader with expertise in specialist areas such as politics, public affairs,
health, medical, nutrition, sport, Government and NGO’s.
Providing excellent training courses that will maximise personnel skills that will
in turn increase accountability, profitability and efficiency.
As consultants we operate confidentiality agreements if required by clients.
All information from companies or individuals is always treated with the utmost
confidentiality and integrity.
Michael Consulting & Facilitation
Why use a Consultant?
Need a Facilitator?
Michael Communications explain the “Terms of Business”….
A lot of confusion exists about the terms facilitation and consulting.
As someone who does both (and Training too…), I would like to help you understand
how to keep them separate. I think the distinction is important and to understand
what they are called is also important if for no other reason than that you know
what you are buying.
I also think it is important to think of training, facilitation and consulting in
two ways - what the professional intends with his or her intervention and what methods
are used in the intervention. The key distinction is the intent, not the methods.
The fact that similar methods are used with very different intents by trainers,
consultants and facilitators is a strong point of confusion. Another way to look
at this is what end product you are buying and what process is used to deliver that
product.
Consulting
When do I want to hire a consultant? When I want to use a competency, skill, knowledge,
or attitude and I don't want to have it available internally in my company. When
I hire a doctor or lawyer I am hiring a consultant. Again the consultant's methods
run from contract, diagnosis, cure, and payment to very participative and interactive
research, development and implementation processes. Frankly, I prefer the lawyer
and doctor who solves the problem with minimal effort on my part, and the same might
be true of a preferred consultant.
We believe the best consulting tends to be more participative using the client's
knowledge about their local situation and the consultant's knowledge of methods
and models in combination to create an implemented solution.
Facilitation
Why hire a facilitator?
When a groups’ planning, model-building, team building, or decision-making process
is best managed by someone outside the group.
As facilitators we have skills in group processes and are neutral about the content
of the discussion.
The methodologies used by facilitators are interactive and participatory, involving
those attending the meeting in creating a solution to a problem or creating a plan.
“They assume that the participants have the authority and ability to deal with the
problem or develop the plan.”
Do it yourself (DIY)
As with converting the attic into a spare bedroom, you can hire a contractor or
you can do it yourself. Three questions need to be answered, "Yes" for effective
DIY. Do you have the skills necessary to do the job? Is it more cost effective for
you to do it than to hire the job out? Do you have the time to do the job?
If you answer "no" to any of the above questions, then
you might consider putting off the project or hiring a contractor, and the same
holds true for hiring a trainer, a consultant or a facilitator.
Michael Consultancy & Speakers can provide bespoke services in
- Strategic Planning
- Think Inn’s / Tank Facilitation & Reporting
- Focus Group Facilitation & Reporting
If there are Questions to be asked, the Michael Consultancy can be a valuable experience.
For further information, please email us your requirements and we will advise you
on the best course of action