Mentoring an independent consultant in instructional design
Situation
An independent consultant, new to consulting and the field of training, engaged Raymond Urgo to anonymously mentor her through her first instructional design project for her first-time client.
Action
Raymond assessed her situation, talents, goals, and client’s project requirements. To begin, he mentored her on the immediate and critical needs for focusing her project. Throughout the engagement, he used her project to demonstrate techniques for designing and writing training programs. He availed himself when she needed to vent frustrations with herself and the client. He advised her on developing effective client relations and on demonstrating the value she was bringing to the client through her approach to the project.
Results
The consultant’s client was so thrilled with her output and working style, it further engaged her services for additional training modules and then to deliver the pilot training. Through the mentoring process, the novice consultant became more knowledgeable, confident, and profitable as a professional service provider, while benefiting her client along the way, too.