2021 was a very weird year. Throw out your five-year plan and sales trend reports. Nothing about this year has been normal.

Where do we go from here? Consultants can help small businesses and nonprofits recalibrate their goals based on the constantly shifting realities.

Roles of Consulting

 FacilitatorMentorCoachConsultantCounselor
Function Process/Guide Guide/Model Thinking Partner Advisor Therapist
Relationship to "Client" Horizontal and Neutral Vertical Horizontal and Neutral Vertical Vertical
Authority Client Mentor Client Consultant Counselor
Relationship Goals Client supported in creating own outcomes. Client learns from mentor's methods of success. Client gains awareness and self-trust to create their own success. Client receives advice, expertise, or resource from consultant. Client is guided in healing from the past.
Expertise Process, group dynamics. Subject matter expertise not needed. Subject matter or organizational context. Coaching process and skills. Subject matter expertise not needed. Subject matter, best practices, change management processes. Therapeutic diagnostics and treatment.
Agenda Client sets the agenda. Mentor defines the path. Client sets the agenda. Client sets main focus; consultant can influence shift or refocus. Client describes need, counselor determines how to meet the need.
Desired Results of Engagement Group determines meaningful outcomes. Client learns the mentor's way of achieving success. Meaningful client change, as defined by the client. Client uses the consultant's solutions to achieve enhanced performance. Emotional healing.

 

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Quality of Life word image

As the months of the COVID-19 pandemic drag on, more people are taking the time to reevaluate some life choices. Stressed out New York City dwellers with means are buying houses in Upstate New York. Workers are choosing not to return to low wage, unsatisfying jobs. After years of inattention, employers are offering employees perks and bonuses.

Poverty Rate by Municipality in New York State

It is easy to blame people who live in poverty for not living up to middle class standards, but it is unfair. The stresses of poverty are pervasive and debilitating.

Many employers of minimum-wage staff are frustrated by difficulties recruiting employees and high rates of turnover. Employers in the "helping professions" of elder and disability care are especially hard hit as they are dependent on Medicaid funding which has not kept up with operational expenses. Many landlords are juggling cash flow to account for renters protected by the eviction moratorium.

The Golden Circle

Every organization needs to define its fundamental purpose, philosophy, and values. The mission statement clarifies the essence of organizational existence. It describes the needs the organization was created to fill and answers the basic question of WHY the organization exists.  A mission statement provides the basis for judging the success of the organization and its programs. It helps to verify if the organization is on the right track and making the right decisions. It provides direction when the organization needs to adapt to new demands. A powerful mission statement attracts donors, volunteers, and community involvement.

Introvert vs. extrovertAfter more than a year in relative solitude, naturally extroverted people are thronging to bars and ballgames, eager to reconnect with their friends - and frankly - total strangers as well. Extroverts thrive amid the swirl of social life and networking opportunities. Extroverted people spend relatively little time listening to others and reflecting on what they have experienced. Characteristically introverted people spend a lot more time with their own thoughts. They are usually observant and good listeners, and may be better at synthesizing complex situations.

Strategic PlanningA strategic plan is a document that establishes the direction of an organization. It can be a single page or fill up a binder, depending on the size and complexity of the business and work.

Most managers can benefit from having a strategic plan. The process of developing a plan helps the manager (and the team) step back and examine where they are, where they want to go, and how they are most likely to get there. In the absence of a plan, work still gets done on a day-to-day basis but often lacks a sense of purpose and priority.

There are seven basic elements of a strategic plan. While much more is often included in the plan, these seven elements will help you get started.