Back to Basics: Things You Have Always Known About Consulting But Tend To Forget in the Heat of Battle

Ethical Issues in Consultation, Associate Professor and Director

“…The concept of power often assumes negative connotations when applied to helping relationships or, in this case, consultation. This is unfortunate in that power, the ability to influence, is often a fundamental determinant of the professional's effectiveness in facilitating goal achievement (Merrell, 1991). For purposes here, the potential misuse or abuse of power in consultation is the focus of concern.…”

“…Gallesich (1982) referred to this as "referent power," that is, influence that occurs as a result of liking, admiring, and wanting to emulate another. Merrell (1991) recommended that consultants use power to educate executives in constructive methods for using their power to elicit cooperation from employees and for strengthening collective commitments to organizational goals.…”

Scale of dragon, toe of frog, and the compleat consultant.

“…Standing up to one's ruler with an objective opinion he may not want to hear has always been fraught with great risk. Nonetheless, as Merrell (1991) and Gates (1997) also noted, delivering such insight is the primary deliverable, the great value-added contribution brought by a vizier-consultant, and such insight itself can save the ruler grave error (Weigel & Morrill, 1969). As an example, Hans Christian Andersen (1982; original ca.…”