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So what is a consultant? According to Backler et al. (1992) a consultant is an individual who assumes the role of an expert advisor and contributes to a problem solving process by using specific knowledge and/or methodologies, or by formulating effective strategies to overcome challenges, improve functions, or to capitalise on existing opportunities (Backler et al., 1992).

This padlet will explore and reflect on various factors that are necessary to be consultant. These will be contrasted with my own readiness to enter the world of consulting as a first year masters student at the University of Johannesburg. The factors we will focus on are:

·      Personality

·      Capabilities & competency

·      Theoretical Stance

·      Ethical Principles

·      Consulting Style

These will be explored using various information sources such as what I have learned from my consulting module class, literature, my interview with an established Industrial Psychologist and relevant media.

Please Find Additional Documents https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SoUwzXhmPIoNqZCAA8j0NeNybbZw6wjr?usp=drive_link

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A consultant is defined as “a person who gives professional or expert advice” (Collins English Dictionary, 2009). Due to the work demands of a consultant and the various situations and contexts consultants work in, certain personality traits can help an individual to effectively navigate working in this field. See the attachment to read further about the personality traits an industrial psychology consultant highlighted and the traits I believe will make it easy/challenging for me to transition into the role of a consultant

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Capabilities and competencies have implications for the ways in which consultants are able to execute their daily functions and roles. The range of competencies and capabilities that consultant has a strong influence on what they are capable of doing and what they are inclined to do. This section will discuss my own capabilities and competencies to establish which ones will make it easier for me to transition into the role of a consultant and which competencies from the masters consulting profile which was constructed in class match my personality and skills.

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This section will discuss my theoretical stance and my preferred consultation model I understand a meta-theoretical stance to be a construct that reflects the essential foundations that anchor and ground a psychologist.  My theoretical stance serves as a framework for how I approach situations and engage with the world based on my fundamental beliefs and convictions. It provides me with a sense of purpose and values while guiding me through situations so I can conduct myself in accordance to those fundamental beliefs even in new or ambiguous situations.it encompasses a range of dimensions beginning with how I perceive myself, my potential, values, beliefs, attributes  and competencies.

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Ethics are centred on ideas of what is right and what is wrong then proceeding with actions that align with what is right (McNamara, 2017). However, within organizational contests this distinction may not be explicitly clear. Ethics encompass rules that inform how we live our lives, values that guide our behaviour. Furthermore they can include aspects such as respect, honesty, fairness and responsibility(McNamara, 2017). Ethics are important in consulting as they inform how consultants behave and the actions they take. They also serve as a tool which helps to inform consultants on how to navigate ethical dilemmas in order to resolve them.

With good ethics consultants can ensure that they conduct themselves in ways that are fair and equitable, and additionally minimize their liabilities as consultants (McNamara, 2017).

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There are eight consulting roles indicated in the Consulting-Style Inventory in the book titled The Consulting Process in Action by Gordon Lippitt and Ronald Lippitt. This section will discuss my own consulting style based on the results I obtained from the Consulting-Style Inventory and contrast the characteristics of the role to my own personality, competencies and theoretical stance.