OD Consulting and Coaching jobs are dynamic careers as they allow people to share their experience and knowledge with others to better their lives of members of the organization and improve organizational effectiveness. OD Consultants and Coaches observe, analyze and instruct others on how to do things more efficiently. They often utilize tools like facilitation, coaching, job shadowing, conducting surveys and interviewing employees to determine the source of any problems so that they can help the client identify solutions and provide training or coaching.
If you’re considering becoming a consultant, here are some questions to consider.
- Do you have industry experience or expertise in the consulting area you’re considering?
- Have you acquired an understanding of business, the influence of technology on organizations, and an understanding of what it takes for organizations to succeed in changing times.
- Are you a people person who can get along with a variety of clients?
- Do you have experience giving presentations, solving difficult problems, and navigating office politics?
- Do you practice the ethical guidelines of the OD Professional consistently?
- Are you comfortable taking on temporary assignments that could last weeks, months, or years depending on the client’s needs?
- Can you objectively support a client you may not agree with?
- Can you handle conflict situations effectively?
- Do you have the mindfulness and patience to help clients analyze their own data to find own solutions to problems?
- Are you willing to share your OD knowledge and practices to help the client become proficient in leading change?
If you answered “Yes” to each of these questions, you might be on your way to becoming an excellent consultant.
Consulting isn’t for everyone. It requires confidence, technical know-how, and organizational awareness. Consultants must be realistic about their role as a consultant –helping the client solve their problem and when the time comes be ready to exit. Don’t confuse your role, you aren’t going to be there forever.
Consultants have a strategic mindset, solid business acumen, and true passion for making a difference. A consultant is a visionary and a problem-solver. You have to find the gaps, what is missing and help find the solution to the situation. If you have the right mindset you will be successful, however, if you forget your role as a consultant, you will lose your impact – as the expert who is there to help the client solve their own problem. Once it’s solved, time to move on…
Marketing Your Business
The key to success in marketing your consulting business
- Networking – Meet other professionals who are interested in your product or services
- Create a compelling website to advertise your services and products, provide offers to encourage requests for more information
- Social Media – Use linked in and Facebook to create a profile, add discussions and articles that you’ve written to promote your consulting services.
- Attend professional membership organizations to meet other professionals, and offer to present projects in OD that you’ve completed.
- Attend OD conferences as a presenter or vendor. IODA or OD Network
- Identify potential clients in your areas and call on them to learn more about their needs and how you can help them.
- Volunteer with a nonprofit organization.
- Identify a business challenge or change opportunity in your organization and offer to help facilitate the change process.
- Earn a certification in the field of OD.
- Create a marketing plan and work the plan!
Links to Jobs in OD:
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/organizational-development-jobs
https://www.governmentjobs.com/jobs?keyword=Organizational%20Development
For those OD Professionals who have practiced OD for more than 5 years or and have implemented OD interventions applying the Action Research Model, or have completed our ODCP program, we offer an advanced OD Certified Consulting Program. Learn more about how you can achieve this certification and gain the distinction as an OD Certified Consultant (ODCC). For more information, contact us at info@instituteod.com.
Author: Nancy L. Zentis, Ph.D. ODCC, ECCP
Nancy is the CEO of Institute of Organization Development offering online OD Certification Programs in Organization Development, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development and Talent Management. Nancy has over 30 years consulting experience in the field of OD. She can be reached at nancy.zentis@instituteod.com, 954-341-2522. For more information, please visit our website: www.instituteod.com.