What to Read: Visual Consulting: Designing & Leading Change

Those in the learning and development field are often keen readers on a variety of topics. Our facilitators and team members are as well. In our new series, “What to Read,” we will share some books and resources that we’ve found to be valuable.

This issue of “What to Read” highlights Visual Consulting: Designing & Leading Change by David Sibbet and Gisela Wendling, Ph.D.

“…the only way leaders will generate sustainable enhancements to organizational performance is by ensuring that the elements of their organization are optimally aligned to the enterprise strategy.” From Visual Consulting: Designing & Leading Change by David Sibbet and Gisela Wendling, Ph.D.

Summary

This resource is a mix of mini-case studies, models to use in facilitating change and practical advice on recognizing visual cues and creating visuals while facilitating in groups. The book is structured so that internal and external consultants can assess current skills and approaches to facilitating change, build awareness in client groups about the value and need for change and specific visual consulting tools that can be used to help groups step into change and take on visible action.

Our Key Takeaways

One of the most valuable chapters in the book is on “Engaging Change Leaders: The Role of Process Design Teams.” In this chapter, the authors outline how to recruit a process design team, contract with those leaders and set them up for success. One of the main take-aways from this chapter is that setting expectations and modeling how you will work as an internal or external consultant will “set the pace” for the entire project.

The book also contains a comprehensive set of ground rules for generative meetings—some of which are more unique than HR and OD facilitators may use now, including “Describe before deciding” (i.e., Spend tie understanding before solving) and “As we converge, make proposals” (i.e., Shift from discussion to action proposals.)

Especially useful are the visual consulting exercises with examples.

Visit the author’s website to learn more.

This issue of “What to Read” highlights Visual Consulting: Designing & Leading Change by David Sibbet and Gisela Wendling, Ph.D.