Process Consultation Revisited: Building The He... May 2026

Schein defines process consultation (PC) as a philosophy of "helping" that focuses on the within an organization—communication, leadership, and group dynamics. The goal is to establish a relationship where the client feels empowered to diagnose and solve their own problems. The Three Models of Help

Use mistakes (yours or the client’s) as learning moments. Process Consultation Revisited: Building the He...

To clarify where PC fits, Schein distinguishes between three common consulting roles: Schein defines process consultation (PC) as a philosophy

This is the baseline for every interaction. To clarify where PC fits, Schein distinguishes between

The consultant should never take over the responsibility of fixing it.

Schein’s work emphasizes that a consultant interacts with a client is more important than what technical advice they give. By focusing on "Humble Inquiry" and active listening, the consultant builds a relationship based on trust, which is the only foundation upon which sustainable organizational change can occur.

The client buys information or a service the consultant provides (e.g., "Tell us how to fix our software").

TOP