COUNSELING METHODOLOGY BEST PRACTICE 

 December 2005

  • THE INTENT OF UTILIZING THESE BEST PRACTICES IS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF PRODUCT TO THE CLIENT (CUSTOMER)
  • SOME PRIOR COMMUNICATIONS EMPHASIZED CLIENT CASE CLOSE-OUT VERSUS CLIENT SATISFACTION AND PRODUCT QUALITY
  • UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME CLIENTS DO NOT KNOW THE "TRUE" QUESTIONS TO ASK EARLY IN THE PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION CYCLE
  • MEANINGFUL COUNSELING IMPROVES AS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CLIENT SPECIFICS ARE KNOW; LEADS TO MENTORING VERSUS DIRECT ANSWERS TO GIVEN QUESTIONS
  • EACH CASE IS DIFFERENT; HOWEVER, BASIC APPROACH TO COUNSELING IS THE SAME
  1. ESTABLISH RAPPORT: BACKGROUND (BOTH WAYS), TRUST,  BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.
  2. NEEDS ASSESSMENT:  CONTINUE RAPPORT AND TRUST BUILD, REVIEW "REAL" VERSUS STATED ISSUES, DEVELOP INFORMATION NEEDED AND DIRECTION; BUSINESS GOAL
  3. DISCUSS STATUS OF BUSINESS PLAN:  REQUIRED PARTS, DATA AND INFO REQUIRED, PLAN TO OBTAIN, SBDC SCHEDULES, HOMEWORK ASSIGNED
  4. PREPARE AND IMPLEMENT THE PLAN: REVIEW DATA OBTAINED, INTRODUCE MOST APPROPRIATE PLAN OF ACTION, DEVELOP BUSINESS PLAN DRAFT REVIEW PROCESS, DISCUSS ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE REQUIRED
  5. BEGIN THE FIVE STEP PROCESS AND BUSINESS PLAN:  SUGGEST IMPROVEMENTS OR ACCEPT PLAN, FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS, FOLLOW-ON CONTACT PLAN
  6. REPORT ACTIVITY:  641-III  VIA HARD COPY OR ONLINE; PREPARATION, RESEARCH, TYPING, DELIVERY.