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Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used [Hardcover]

Peter Block (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)


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Book Description

September 1999 0787948039 978-0787948030 2nd
The second edition of the "consultant's bible" is here!

For over fifteen years, consultants--both internal and external--have relied on Peter Block's landmark bestseller, Flawless Consulting, to learn how to deal effectively with clients, peers, and others. Using illustrative examples, case studies, and exercises, the author, one of the most important and well known in his field, offers his legendary warmth and insight throughout this much-awaited second edition. Anyone who must communicate in a professional context--and who doesn't?--will use the lessons taught in this book for years to come!

"Who would have thought the 'consultant's bible' could be improved upon? Count on Peter Block--the consulting profession's very own revolutionary--to push us to confront and struggle with the paradoxes inherent in our work."
--Candace Thompson, organization development consultant, First Chicago NBD--A Bank One Company

"Block has distilled years of experience into a wise, down-to-earth, and eminently practical guide to excellence in consulting. If you are new to the practice, Flawless Consulting will chop years off your learning cycle. And even if you're an old pro, Block's insights will elevate you to new levels of effectiveness. Flawless Consulting is not simply about becoming a better consultant; it is about using consulting as a path toward becoming a better person."
--Barry Oshry, president, Power & Systems, Inc.; author of Seeing Systems and Leading Systems


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The second edition of Peter Block's Flawless Consulting gracefully updates what many consider the best resource of its kind. New chapters on implementation, "whole-system" strategies, and ethics are included, but in general it simply fine-tunes Block's proven advice to match the transformations that business and society have undergone since initial publication two decades ago. "The days of long studies and expert-driven answers are passing," the author proclaims in his new preface. "The task of the consultant is increasingly to build the capacity of clients to make their own assessments and answer their own questions." He then subtly modifies his established recommendations accordingly for every step, from the initial client meeting and problem diagnosis through data collection and the execution of solutions. In the section on "Conducting a Group Feedback Meeting," for example, he advises: "Treat the group as a collection of individuals.... Ask each person what he or she wants from the meeting. This will surface differences and force the group to take responsibility for some of the difficulties that may arise." --Howard Rothman

Review

"Who would have thought the 'consultant's bible' could be improved upon? Count on Peter Block -the consulting profession's very own revolutionary-to push us to confront and struggle with the paradoxes inherent in our work." (Candace Thompson, organization development consultant, First Chicago NBD - A Bank One Company)

"The first question to ask any consultants: Have you read Peter Block's Flawless Consulting? If they say no, don't hire them. Peter Block's advice is flawless!" (Barry Z. Posner, dean and professor of leadership, Leavey School of Business, co-author of The Leadership Challenge and Encouraging the Heart)

"Block has distilled years of experience into a wise, down-to-earth, and eminently practical guide to excellence in consulting. If you are new to the practice, Flawless Consulting will chop years off your learning cycle. And even if you're an old pro, Block's insights will elevate you to new levels of effectiveness. Flawless Consulting is not simply about becoming a better consultant; it is about using consulting as a path toward becoming a better person." (Barry Oshry, president, Power & Systems, Inc., author of Seeing Systems and Leading Systems)

"For external and internal consultants alike, Peter Block provides the roadmap to travel what always seems like unchartered terrain. The power behind Peter's work lies not only in the compass he provides but in helping us see how truly a forceful and powerfulinfluence one person can be." (Jack Lerner, vice-president of organization development & learning, The CIT Group)

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 371 pages
  • Publisher: Pfeiffer; 2nd edition (September 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0787948039
  • ISBN-13: 978-0787948030
  • Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 8.2 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Peter Block is a citizen of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a partner in Designed Learning, a training company that offers workshops designed by Block to build the skills outlined in his books. He is the author of Flawless Consulting, Stewardship, The Empowered Manager, and The Answer to How Is Yes. He is the recipient of the American Society for Training and Development Award for Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance and the Association for Quality and Participation President's Award. He is also a member of Training magazine's HRD Hall of Fame.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
113 of 117 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I liked this book very much, because it focuses on the style of consulting I like to do -- increasing the capacity of the client to find and implement her/his own solutions. What especially impressed me was the great care placed on how to establish the relationship with the client, as well as defining the assignment. Consultants love to define assignments, but often don't give much thought to the relationship. The emphasis should be just the opposite.

The book is nicely balanced between the needs of those who supply internal consulting (whether formally, or as staff resources) and external consultants and experts. I have played both roles, and each one teaches you something you need to know in order to be a better consultant. This is the only book on consulting that I have read that captures both perspectives and roles well.

A great strength of the book is that there are extensive examples of the same issue so that you can get a good perspective, even if you don't yet have much experience as a consultant. So it is a terrific book for those who are new to consulting.

For those of us who have a few decades of consulting experience, there is still a lot to learn. I was especially helped by the extensive list of ways to diagnose what may be going wrong when the client asks questions or is inactive. I was helped even more by many ingenious responses to those situations that had never occurred to me.

This is a principled book, one that considers the needs of the client and the consultant in a fair and even-handed way. It also gives you the perspective you need to apply those principles.

I heartily agree with the emphasis on getting as much relevant client involvement as possible, to improve commitment, understanding, relationships, and the ability to implement later on.

The next time I run into a potential snag in a consulting relationship, I intend to check my thinking with this wonderful guide. I suggest you do the same. You'll need to have a copy around, so plan to buy one on Amazon.com.

For those fans of The McKinsey Way, you should read this book, too. It will facilitate your career in much more valuable and signficant ways.

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54 of 56 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Peter Block covers the intangibles of consulting: the politics, communications and the obstacles that derail the consultant/client relationship. This book is a MUST read, not only for consultants, but for anyone that works in or around companies that have politics, or bureaucracy, or people. That should cover just about all of us. This book helped me because it covered so much more then the business techniques of consulting, hey I'm a business consultant after all. Flawless Consulting helps you master communication and contracting gaffs, to understand why after much good advice the customer still does the wrong thing, and most importantly how your success can be assured despite those kind of issues.
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52 of 56 people found the following review helpful
By Marc
Format:Hardcover
This is an amazing book! Peter Block's Flawless Consulting, is a textbook appropriate not only for consultants but for anyone that wants to share their expertise with others. Block explains, "You are consulting any time you are trying to change or improve a situation but have no direct control over the implementation."

About his audacious title, he asserts that it is possible for us to operate without error. To consult flawlessly "requires intense concentration on two process. (1)Being as authentic as you can be at all times with the client; (2)Attending directly, in words and actions, to the business of each stage of the consulting process."

Having set the bar extremely high, Block doesn't leave the reader trying to figure out what "being authentic" and "attending to the business of each stage" means. Flawless Consulting is an extremely practical book. Flawless Consulting is replete with checklists, case scenarios, suggested wording (sometimes entire scripts), business recommendations, and practical insights. The book is saturated with Block's wonderful sense of humor and humanity.

Unlike some second editions that are content to simply add a new preface and some cosmetic changes to the dust jacket, Block has updated information throughout the book and added entirely new chapters on: Whole-System Discovery, Implementation, Strategies for Engagement, Ethics and the Shadow Side of Consulting, The Heart of the Matter.

Though not a consultant in the formal sense, I found his insights delightfully applicable to my day-to-day work. So much so that I nearly underlined every line in the book and made notes in the margins! Despite all the great information I gleaned, I think people more formally involved in consulting will get even more from Flawless Consulting. I highly recommend this book for anyone who interested in Getting Your Expertise Used.

In addition to the two prefaces, the chapters are:

Chapter 1 A Consultant by Any Other Name

Chapter 2 Techniques Are Not Enough
Chapter 3 Flawless Consulting
Chapter 4 Contracting Overview
Chapter 5 The Contracting Meeting
Chapter 6 The Agonies of Contracting
Chapter 7 The Internal Consultant
Chapter 8 Understanding Resistance
Chapter 9 Dealing with Resistance
Chapter 10 From Diagnosis to Discovery
Chapter 11 Getting the Data
Chapter 12 Whole-System Discovery
Chapter 13 Preparing for Feedback
Chapter 14 Managing the Feedback Meeting
Chapter 15 Implementation
Chapter 16 Strategies for Engagement
Chapter 17 Some Tools for Engagement
Chapter 18 Ethics and the Shadow Side of Consulting
Chapter 19 The Heart of the Matter
Appendix Another Checklist You Can Use (7 checklists actually)

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Clear, Fun, Profound Guidance to Work
I know this is is aimed at consultants, but all of us are consultants, so long as we have to negotiate a work relationship with someone else. Read more
Published 1 month ago by G. Mesick
textbook
text book came in great time frame, class isnt until next month but glad ii purchased it on amazon. i saved over 30 dollars if i would of bought it used at my school bookstore! Read more
Published 1 month ago by jennifer hensel
Block, Flawless Consulting 3rd Ed
Great - been following Block since the early 90's. Decided to purchase the newest version (I have 1st and 2nd ed already).

Book was perfect.
Published 2 months ago by dc
Dumbfounded how this book got 5 star reviews...
I have read a number of consulting books and have been in the industry for a significant amount of time and I am baffled that this would be one of the most recommended books on... Read more
Published 6 months ago by DZ
Flawless Consulting
A little off-putting ("flawless"), until you start to read the book. Helpful, to those seeking insight and how-to about consulting, it offers details about reaching the client,... Read more
Published 7 months ago by D. Bigelow
Super
This book arrived earlier than expected, in great shape. I have had good experience with trusting the ratings from Amazon customers. Read more
Published 8 months ago by C. Miller
Satisfied Customer
Great book. New, in great condition as expected.Shipping was on time. I also recommend the book. I am reading it for a master's class in consulting. Read more
Published 8 months ago by K. Maartens
Excellent
Flawless Consulting so far has been an excellent text. It gives you the ABC of consulting; it is very practical with examples and I love the illustrations. Read more
Published 8 months ago by DoYouReadme?
Real Hands On Advise
Used this book for my MBA program. Block offers some great hands on and step by step advice on how to handle several situations within the consulting relationship.
Published 15 months ago by Christopher Fizur
Great resource for all consultants.
I had to read this book as part of my orientation for a new consulting job, and it was a great introduction to the kind of work I'll be doing. Read more
Published 15 months ago by V
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
ANY FORM OF HUMOR or sarcasm has some truth in it. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
contracting meeting, surrogate manager, feedback meeting, desirable wants, consultant response, authentic behavior, contracting phase, consulting efforts
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Second Edition, The Contracting Meeting, Techniques Are Not Enough, Understanding Resistance, The Agonies of Contracting, Managing the Feedback Meeting, Getting the Data, The Heart of the Matter, Contracting Overview, Meeting Meeting, Any Other Name, Whole-System Discovery, Business Problems, Funneling the Data, Example Engineer Consultant Consultant, Flawless Consulting
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