- Process consultant
In
organization development , a process consultant is afacilitator who helps a group deal with issues involving the process in ameeting , rather than thetask s. He or she is a specialized type ofconsultant .Role in Small Group Development
A process consultant may be used at any time during the
Stages of Group Development . Occasionally, a process consultant is used when a group is either in its formative stage, or normative stage. However, more often than not, she or he is brought in when the group is inconflict .Role in Conflict Resolution
Often a group finds itself in
conflict overfact s, goals, methods or values. It is the role of the process consultant to help the group reachconsensus over the type of conflict it faces.Once the type of conflict is identified, the process consultant then helps the group work through the steps required to break the impasse.
It is important to note that the process consultant's role is not to solve the problem, but to help the group solve its own problem. The reason for this is because it is the group, not the consultant who will have to live with the consequences of its decision.
Role in Conflict Management
Occasionally, due to the nature of conflict, the process consultant may need to guide the group toward
conflict management rather thanconflict resolution .Techniques Used
Initially a process consultant will not lead or participate in a group meeting, but rather will act as an observer. During this time, he or she is observing the
group dynamics to determine whatinterpersonal relationships may be contributing to the group's issues.At some point, s/he will begin to actively participate in the meeting, by asking clarifying questions or
paraphrasing . Eventually, s/he will make his/her observations known by giving the groupfeedback .Education Required
To enter this field, a background in
psychology andsmall group learning is helpful. Experience in readingbody language and possessinganalytic skills is also useful. However, receiving some training inexperiential education will probably be the most beneficial.References
*Block, Peter (1981), "Flawless Consulting," University Associates, Inc
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