Let's Talk Consulting!

Let’s Talk Consulting! 
Throughout my time in education, I worked with quite a few consultants and consulting teams over the years. They were all well intentioned people who were hired to solve a specific problem or try to help improve a program. I learned a lot from those experiences and if I’m being honest, a lot of what I picked up on was what not to come in and do as a consultant. When I was first dreaming about starting my own business and including consulting, I knew right away that I wanted my clients to walk away confident in the plan that we would work on together to better their business. I also knew that I 100% did not want to waste anyone's time - it’s too precious and as a small business owner who wears many hats, there’s rarely enough time. So, let’s talk about what it’s like to work with me as a consultant!
First Step - We Talk about YOU! One piece of consulting that absolutely thrills me is getting to talk with and learn all about my client’s business, to hear their story. People’s ingenuity in starting their business never gets old to me! I spend time with the founder to learn what their pain point is - why they reached out to me in the first place. This is the time that the client really gets to paint a clear picture of the history, current state, and then any hopes and dreams they have for their business. This is so important and I never rush this process. Listening and picking up on the nuances of their business that the owner may be too close to see is a huge part of this phase. 
Second Step - Plan, Erase, Plan! You may be thinking, “whaaaat are you talking about here?!” Well, it’s this. After meeting with a client, I’ll draft up a plan of how I can best come alongside to help alleviate their pain point, and how I can work with them to help make things better. Sometimes, this looks like coming up with a comprehensive people development plan with customized content and learning experiences. With some business owners, it’s helping them strategically think through managing change that is coming. Whatever the need is, it first starts by laying the groundwork of a plan. When I have that all sketched out, we talk again and usually make changes. Hence, the Erase part! That’s the beauty of working with me - my goal is never to be a one size fits all consultant. My goal is to listen to you and hear your business needs and then create a plan that is unique and will meet your specific needs. After we make any changes, we get started! 
Third Step - Let’s get to work! This is where I roll up my sleeves and get in the trenches with you. I love this part because I get to continue to know you, your business, and your people. We work through your specific, customized content and move through your customized plan. Ultimately, your pain point is gone and your business is set up for continued success. 
One question I get a lot of is what kind of consulting do you do. I love to work with business owners on creating whole person healthy businesses. Businesses that people want to work with and for because they know what it means to take care of their people. Through my time as a Director of Student Support Programs and then program managing on a regional and state level, I know what it takes to juggle many, many different components of work at the same time. Brene Brown has a quote from her Dare to Lead training that just resonates with me so much when it comes to my work as a consultant. “Leaders must either invest a reasonable amount of time attending to fears and feelings, or squander an unreasonable amount of time trying to manage ineffective and unproductive behavior.” It’s my goal to help business owners do just that and to maximize their time as a person first, then a business leader. I’d love to hear from you how I can best help YOUR business flourish. 
Be well, 
JoEllen