It is always wise to solicit many OD providers to find the best fit for your organization. Such diligence will give you a sense of the firm’s approach and its success in your industry.

The tangible capabilities include the consultant’s ability to critically assess the organization’s assets and challenges and then follow up with effective change and intervention tools to move the organization in the direction it desires. The intangibles include the consultant’s ability to partner with you by building trust and credibility, listening effectively, providing candid feedback where necessary, and holding the organization accountable for the changes ahead.

Good OD consultants are effective at reading complex systems and have a high tolerance for emergence or shifting dynamics across the organization. Their skilled transfer of knowledge and ownership back into the organization not only builds internal capacity but defines their developmental philosophy and integrity in the industry.

© 2008 Barbara Tuckner Inc.