APTitude

The activity last week was really, really helpful.  I realized it wasn’t necessarily what was on the syllabus but being able to practice different phases of inquiry were really helpful!  I didn’t realize exactly how helpful until this past weekend.  I was working through some landscaping issues with my dad and being very conscious of what questions I asked and how I asked them really made a difference for both of us.  What is usually a very trying task for us became much more interesting and downright fun!

One of the things I focused on was to ask questions before making judgements or offering my opinion.  It was very tempting to just offer an opinion since it’s my yard and my money going into the landscaping.  But, my dad is a professional horticulturist.  We talked through his suggestions so that I could understand more about WHY he made the suggestion rather than just focusing on the proposed plant, tree, bush, etc.  It also made me more conscious about how to respond.  Rather than just a “I don’t like that” or “That’s not what I want it to look like”, I could respond with “I see what you are saying about the shade, but I don’t want to clean up any fruit that drops to the ground all summer.”

The best part was that my dad felt a lot better about helping.  First, it made our time together more enjoyable.  Second, I’m more likely to get his help again in the future!

I finally figured out why I feel so uncomfortable applying Peter Block’s ideas on process consulting with my client this semester. On one hand, I am supposed to authentic. I am supposed to be true and honest and empathetic and professional. On the other hand, I am supposed to take a client to a place where they need to understand their role in their problem. This is not how I present myself to the client, this is not what the client is expecting from me. So, in a way it seems very IN-authentic. “Hi! Can you tell me what your problem is so that I can show you how you are responsible for it?”

When I was an internal consultant, the process consultant role was very different for me. People came to me with problems. I could decide through careful listening and well-timed questions whether or not I need to be a Hands-On, Expert or Process consultant with whatever the issue at hand was. Some times I even wore all three hats for one issue! Now, I feel a little sneaky. I feel like I’m going to surprise the client with the actual outcome.

I can’t tell you how relieved I was to find out that my clients are both familiar with Peter Block. It helps me to feel like they know what is coming, even though we aren’t actually talking about it while contracting.

Working through a conversation in the role of a consultant was tough! I see how each step is vital to creating rapport and trust between the client and the consultant. What really surprised me is that this approach also created credibility for the consultant. By listening and asking really clear, non-confrontive (or confrontative) questions, the consultant established their role as the expert. It had nothing to do with being an expert in what ever the problem is!

My instincts were to jump to a solution mode and offer my ideas on improvement. This happened even when I knew that the objective of the exercise to was to practice active inquiry. I have often found myself in situations where others have done the same thing – I share an issue or problem and the listener jumps to offer a solution. Often, this happens before I have even finished my exploration of the problem at hand. As expected, my response, as a “client”, is to not want to share any more, to shut down, to become defensive.

Another thing that I walked away with was how to make consulting easier for someone else. Currently, I may need to hire other consultants to supplement my skill set for some projects. Already, I understand how important it is to share details, provide “back story“ that is pertinent and to stay focused on the problem. This exercise will also affect how I interview and hire other consultants in the future.

I am struck by Peter Block’s stress of being authentic.  As someone who is trying to start my own business, I often find myself in a place where being inauthentic seems like the best way to get the job or the contract.  I am often torn between being authentic and being the person that the client needs or wants.  When I go to the place of being the person that gets the job instead of myself, it doesn’t feel very good.  And, it hasn’t worked!

Just to dig a little deeper, I looked up authentic.  Here are some of the key words I found – not false or copied, genuine, real, verified, reliable, trustworthy.  It’s kind of a big duh! when I think about it in this framework.  The consultant I would ever want to work with would fit this description.  Otherwise, wouldn’t they fall into a category not unlike a stereotypical used car salesman.  I need to trust myself more…  Then, that authenticity will come out.

Consulting skills is one of the classes that I have been looking forward to the most!  I am really looking forward finding my own ways to flawless consulting.  I had no idea over a year ago when I applied to this program, that I would be trying to start my own business and that I would be taking this class.  Once again, I am amazed at the timliness of events of my life.

It’s funny how things come at you.  I’ve looked at and read about Myers-Briggs for years.  My mom is a MBTI guru so I’ve been taking the test since I was about 12 years old.  I just happened to be reading some information on it just this week and I am amazed at how timely it is.  If I had read this a month ago, it probably would not have the same impact…

I am an ISTP.  At one time, I was an E on the scale but that was when I was much, much younger.  Also, my J/P score is usually close to the middle but always on the P side.  My ST has been strong since the first time I’ve taken the test.  Here’s a bit of what I found about ISTP:

Like most SPs, ISTPs may have trouble with rote and abstract classroom learning, which tend not to be good measures of their actual intelligence. They tend, sometimes with good reason, to be highly skeptical of its practical value…

This is the same feedback that I have received from others.  Combine this with Adult ADHD and I am sure that it must be awful to have me in a classroom.  But, feedback is good stuff.  I know this so I am armed to deal with the perceptions.  Skeptical is such a good word for me too.  It is hard for me to take on new information.  I have to roll it around in my head, try it on in my imagination, chew on it.  It can take forever for me to implement or act on it.  But, it’s in there.

Extraverted Sensing – The combination of dominant introverted thinking and auxiliary extraverted sensing results in no-nonsense realism. The uncanny troubleshooting ability which predisposes many ISTPs to hands-on diagnostics (especially with machinery and computers) or detective work is most probably rooted in this pairing.

Another moment of insight.  Instructional design and I fit…  I was beginning to have some serious doubts about myself, my graduate studies, my career plans.

Introverted iNtuition – Tertiary iNtuition maintains a low profile. ISTPs are prone to consult “gut feelings” that most probably arise from this function unconsciously. As with other SP types, ISTPs generally lack enthusiasm for theoretical and philosophical issues, and less for the endless discussions in which the Intuitive (especially NP) types so frequently engage.

It’s not an excuse, but it explains a lot.  Again, the awareness of how I may be perceived by others is a powerful tool.  MBTI is all about perceptions to me.  It’s about how I look to the rest of the world.  I love knowing other people’s MBTI too.  It helps me think about where they are coming from, what’s going on in their head.

One other thing – for the first time in my life, I came out with a score on the J of the J/P scale.  I took the short test so I don’t trust it’s reliability.  I think that comes from the fact that I am in the midst of uber-scheduling my time and energies to wrap-up the semester and my Research Methods class.  But, this is what I read in the first paragraph of the ISTJ write-up.

ISTJs are often called inspectors. They have a keen sense of right and wrong, especially in their area of interest and/or responsibility.

It goes on to talk about how ISTJs will stick with something, once they know it works, even at the expense of their health (or grades?).

I’m not putting my whole life-plan in the hands of the MBTI.  But, it has always been good for me to come back and revisit these things.  I need to work on appearing more open to new ideas and strategies.  I need to work on letting folks know that I am present in the room and in the moment with them (even though my brain could or could not be – it could be there or in Key West or at home in the garden).

Seminar at VCU went well…  Lots of good feedback.  I stayed in my comfort zone on the presentation though.  It was material that I had presented before so I stayed with the traditional presentation style.  Sorry Jane Vella…  But, it works and the client is happy, very happy.

Interview was interesting.  They asked what I need to get up and running and I said, “Probably everyone’s most precious resource, time.  I need to understand what you have, what you need and how to bring those two things together.”  They all nodded enthusiastically.  Then, proceeded to tell me that they would like this new trainer to be teaching in the first 90 days.  This organization has never had a training position before.  Sounds like the first hurdle is to manage expectations…  There is something really exciting about going in and setting the standard for training within an organization.

Then, they asked if I could leave all my training samples with them.  I thought that weird.  I wanted to say, “You can have my training samples but I come along with them – we are a package deal!”  I just politely refused though.  I never had anyone ask if they could keep my samples before…  Is that just me?

It felt really good to get such positive feedback on my instructional design.  AND, I have an interview this week where they asked to see some of my manuals/design work. I can quickly change all the “Customers” to “Members” and tote that along with me.  None of my stuff is terribly professional in presentation – some things are just stapled together.  But, what I lack in professional binding and printing, I make up for in content and design.  I hope they can see that!

The job interview is with another credit union here in town.  They just created their first training position.  I am really good at going in and helping set-up shop.  I also have 8 years of experience in the credit union industry!  But, they evidently got HUNDREDS of applications for the one position.  I know that means I am going up against other trainers who are very polished, very professional.  I wish I could whisper in their ear that super polished and mega professional doesn’t always equal good training.  I guess that’s what my interview is for…  I think I am the first interview they have scheduled – good sign.

Tomorrow, I am teaching a seminar for VCU – Organizing Personal Documents.  I lost the weekend due to the ER visit.  So, I am swamped today trying to catch up and even get a little ahead.

Does that make you think of slamming on the brakes?  Amazing how a few little things happen and life can go into a tail spin.  The dog attack, a trip out-of-town for Easter and then painters all over my house with their flirtatious banter and drop cloths everywhere. It’s like I can’t get anything else done!

I had to write the biggest check of my entire life and send it to the IRS today.  It made me nauseous.  I couldn’t bring myself to write another check to the Commonwealth of Virginia too.  So, I procrastinated on that one until it’s due on May 1.

With all these silly things going on, how in the world am I going to get my arms around my Research Methods class?  How am I going to finish this silly research propoal.  I am so confused about what to do and how to do it.  Time with Dr. Muth helped tremendously.  But, there’s so much more to do!!!  Then, class was cancelled again on Monday.  Oi!  Only three weeks left to learn a semester’s worth of research methods.  Why, oh why do I do this to myself?

I loved that project!  I really could do that for a living and it wouldn’t be like work.  If I had started earlier, I would have spent a lot more time going back over details.  Truth is that I wanted to start on that design the first week of the semester.  It sounded like such a cool project – and something I want practice and feedback on so I can get better.  I didn’t let myself start it until more of my other work was done though.  So, it ended up being very last-minute and kinda rushed…

I love making all the pieces fit together for a class or seminar.  It really is like a great combination of putting together a puzzle and making a map to your final destination.

So, why are there ads on my blog page now?  How do I make those go away?  It looks like some words are underlined and if I float my mouse over them, an ad pops up.  At least the ad has something to do with the word that’s underlined!  But, I don’t particularly care to endorse HP Printers or one of those silly credit monitoring software companies…

Anyone else getting this?  Anyone else even reading my blog?