1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910830727203321

Autore

Haan Erik de

Titolo

Fearless consulting [[electronic resource] ] : temptations, risks, and limits of the profession / / Erik de Haan

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Chichester, West Sussex, England ; ; [Hoboken, N.J.], : J. Wiley & Sons, c2006

ISBN

1-119-20917-X

1-280-35583-2

9786610355839

0-470-03279-0

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (229 p.)

Disciplina

001

658.46

Soggetti

Business consultants

Consultants

Intervention (Administrative procedure)

Problem solving

Responsibility

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. [183]-187) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Cover; Contents; Foreword 1; Foreword 2; Preface; Prologue: Characteristics of Consulting; 1: Characteristics of the Entry; 2: The Entry and Fearless Speech; Communicating advice; Four forms of argumentation; Forms of argumentation for consultants; The fearless consultant; Fearless speech under pressure; Conclusion; 3: Characteristics of Joint Problem Formulation; 4: Problem Formulation and Irony; Ambiguous communication; What is irony?; Two divine examples of irony; The ironic consultant; Irony as an instrument for change; Irony and the concept of fate; Conclusion

5: Characteristics of Intervening6: Intervening and Power; Intervening means stepping in; The focus of interventions; The art of intervening; The powerless consultant; Conclusion; 7: Characteristics of Consolidating; 8: Consolidating and Responsibility; The responsibility of the consultant; Why does anything come about?; Authority and



responsibility; The non-responsible consultant; Conclusion; 9: Characteristics of Departure and Letting Go; 10: Letting Go and Tragic Consulting; The consultant as committed outsider; The chorus in Greek tragedy; The tragic consultant

What pleasure does a tragedy give?Conclusion; Epilogue: Twenty Minutes in the Life of a Consultant; The invitation; Observations prior to the conversation; The conversation as it took place; The conversation as it did not take place; Observations following the conversation; The follow-up conversation; Appendix A; Appendix B; References; Index

Sommario/riassunto

The history of consulting dates back to the original 'intervention' of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, and today's consultants have just as dubious a reputation. They are tempted by flattery and over-assessment of their abilities, and run the risks of uncertainty, responsibility without authority and loss of control. In order to steer a middle course, they must understand their own intention as consultants. Fearless Consulting clearly demonstrates that, in spite of the many risks and temptations, consultants can approach their profession and clients fearlessly, and offers a ra