L&D Consultancy Skills

Overview

Increasing numbers of experienced L&D professionals now play the role of L&D Consultants, managing a network of relationships with internal client groups. This involves dealing with incoming requests for training programmes, working in a consultative capacity with senior stakeholders to clarify business needs and confirming the nature of any associated solutions.

The key objective of this challenging role is to agree best-practice solutions that employ the optimum blend of resources and that meet the needs of the business in a cost-effective manner. However, the skills and knowledge required to provide effective L&D consultancy do not necessarily come naturally to all trainers.

What's included in the course?

• Pre-course work
• Evening work
• Assessment

Who is it for?

The course is suitable for L&D professionals who are being required to undertake a consultative role, working with key stakeholders to agree business improvement learning initiatives.

What the delegates will learn

• Understanding the L&D consultancy role
• Employing a range of consultancy skills in order to maintain effective relationships
• Conducting interviews with stakeholder to effectively develop the brief
• Undertaking the validation of the need
• Exploring possible approaches and identifying a possible solution
• Gaining stakeholder agreement to the solution presented
• Undertaking evaluation and review of implemented solution

Next steps

• Learning Needs Analysis
• Managing Learning Transfer
• Learning Evaluation

Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this course.

Objectives

Delegates will apply the following five stages of the consultancy process in accordance with the TAP L&D Consultancy Skills Profile:

• Obtain a sponsor brief
• Validate the learning need
• Formulate a solution
• Win sponsor support
• Provide a debrief for a given scenario

Outline

Session 1: Introduction to Consultancy
In this session, we consider:

• The trainer as consultant
• The consultancy process
• Core consultancy skills

Session 2: Obtaining a Sponsor Brief
In this session, we consider:

• The initial contact
• The information to gather from the sponsor
• Questioning tenses
• The 3-step interview process

Session 3: Validating the Need
In this session, we consider:

• Methods of gathering information
• Sources of information
• Analysis techniques

Session 4: Formulate a Solution
In this session, we consider:

• Methods and e-media
• Methods of generating ideas
• Choosing a solution

Session 5: Winning Sponsor Support
In this session, we consider:

• Tips for confident presenting
• Features, advantages and benefits
• Overcoming objections
• Presentation structure

Session 6: Initiate Design and Monitor Implementation
In this session, we consider:

• The design and development process
• Pilot and modify
• Implement

Session 7: Evaluate and Debrief
In this session, we consider:

• Post-implementation evaluation
• Methods of evaluation
• Process and results-based evaluation