Performance Consulting
Performance consulting is a process through which workplace performance is enhanced in support of business goals. Clients need a performance consultant who ensures communication among intervention specialists and take actions to resolve business problems. The performance consultant operates in an unbiased, objective manner and avoids making assumptions to solve the performance problems. There are four key phases in the performance consulting: (1) partnership phase, (2) assessment phase, (3) implementation phase, and (4) measurement phase (LaBonte & Robinson, 1999).
Partnership Phase
The performance consultant focuses on developing long-term relationships with clients, based on their business and performance needs. The performance consultant learns the client’s business terms and concepts, attends the client’s staff meetings, and becomes a member of the client’s team. As performance gaps are identified, the performance consultant contracts with the client to conduct performance assessment.
Assessment Phase
This phase involves collecting data on the current status and the desired state of performance and the cause of any performance gaps. The performance consultant collects data from clients, managers, performers, and customers. Their measurement and analysis should be based on four aspects including business needs, performance needs, work environment needs, and capability needs as follows:
After the cause analysis, data and information will be reported to the client with objectivity: we let data speak for itself. The performance consultant should agree intervention with the client for improvement. Such intervention may include client intervention, HR intervention, learning intervention, and work environment intervention.
Implementation Phase
It is important to acknowledge that the specialty of a function may be needed, depending on the situation. It is essential that the performance consultant and client reach agreement, which gives the consultant freedom to choose the most appropriate tools for the situation. The intervention will be implemented when an action is agreed with clients.
Measurement Phase
It is essential that measurement is agreed to and integrated into each phase of process. During assessment, appropriate data is collected as part of the measurement plan. That data becomes the baselines for data collected during implementation.
Partnership Phase
The performance consultant focuses on developing long-term relationships with clients, based on their business and performance needs. The performance consultant learns the client’s business terms and concepts, attends the client’s staff meetings, and becomes a member of the client’s team. As performance gaps are identified, the performance consultant contracts with the client to conduct performance assessment.
Assessment Phase
This phase involves collecting data on the current status and the desired state of performance and the cause of any performance gaps. The performance consultant collects data from clients, managers, performers, and customers. Their measurement and analysis should be based on four aspects including business needs, performance needs, work environment needs, and capability needs as follows:
After the cause analysis, data and information will be reported to the client with objectivity: we let data speak for itself. The performance consultant should agree intervention with the client for improvement. Such intervention may include client intervention, HR intervention, learning intervention, and work environment intervention.
Implementation Phase
It is important to acknowledge that the specialty of a function may be needed, depending on the situation. It is essential that the performance consultant and client reach agreement, which gives the consultant freedom to choose the most appropriate tools for the situation. The intervention will be implemented when an action is agreed with clients.
Measurement Phase
It is essential that measurement is agreed to and integrated into each phase of process. During assessment, appropriate data is collected as part of the measurement plan. That data becomes the baselines for data collected during implementation.