You're stuck in a ♾️loop of thoughts, or even a spiral of thoughts.
Whichever way you look at your specific situation, you have had enough of work arounds, ignoring things and the tension yet can't see a way to break out. Everyone around you is involved in this situation in some way so you need an independent set of ears and expertise.
That's when you cast around for what external ears and expertise you might need - could be a coach, mentor, facilitator, mediator, consultant or some training (for you or anyone else involved). How do you choose?
⚡when there's a brewing or even entrenched conflict you might want an expert in conflict resolution or mediator
Not my area of expertise.
🕵️ when there's a strategic or operational problem to solve, or even implement a whole piece of work, which neither you nor your team has the expertise for, you might consider a consultant. They will look independently according to their area of expertise and come up with a plan and actions with and for you.
My consultancy areas are strategy, insight and team culture with an emphasis on coaching you through so you are already taking and are equipped to take more action right away.
💁 when you feel out of your depth or you want advice to navigate a situation or organisation, you can look for a mentor. Someone you trust who is not directly involved but has experience they can share. It can be someone within your organisation, someone you worked with somewhere else perhaps or an independent person with the relevant experience. It can be paid or unpaid depending on the circumstance.
My own mentoring area is for leading during change - setting up something new or bringing in structural and cultural changes. I've been there, done that and love talking you through.
🧑🏼🏫when you realise either you or the people needing to do the work don't have the right skills, then you may feel that a trainer is needed.
My own areas of expertise for training is people skills, team culture and ways of working. It's always about you, your team and what specifically you want out of it.
🫷🏼🫸🏼when you have a knotty problem to solve or a project to plan that needs everyone to get together to discuss openly and honestly - shooing those elephants gently but firmly out of the room, you will be looking for an independent facilitator. Whether that's for a one-off workshop, a series or a combination of advice, training and meetings, a skilled independent facilitator will listen carefully, plan in detail, guiding and monitoring the conversations to an agreed outcome. They are independent because have no stake in the outcome, except that their goal is for you to get what you need out of the exercise.
My own areas of expertise for facilitation are developing strategy, implementing strategic plans and insight, leading change, systems thinking, team culture and ways of working.
👂🏼👂🏼when you personally feel you're stuck in that spiral or loop and are not sure where you want to break out to or what to do next, that's when you need a coach. Coaching is forward looking. A coach is trained to guide you to find your own way towards your goals, our intervention being through thought-provoking questions and any theory or specific tools we can usefully introduce you to. Coaches will usually specialise.
My own area of coaching specialisation is people leadership, with sub specialisations of change leadership, team and organisation culture.
So, to work out your ideal supplier,
1️⃣first decide which type of problem solver you need - coach, mentor, facilitator, mediator, consultant or trainer
2️⃣Then it's a question of the specialist knowledge, experience or skills you want them to have, so they are the right person to solve the actual problem you have.
3️⃣ Finally it's down to choosing who - chemistry, cost, availability, format, flexibility, fit with your organisation and budget
As for me, I can be all of those (except mediator) and my specialist areas are strategy, insight, people leadership skills, change leadership, team and organisational culture.
Get in touch by emailing info@clearasabell.uk or setting up a 30-minute call if you think I might be the one, know someone who could be or just a chat. I won't tell you I'm the right person if I'm not!