I am not sure why…but more recently the everyday consultant challenge of Finding The “I Can Help Sweet Spot” for individuals and groups has become way more difficult.  I know…everyone who knows me…knows I always have ideas.  Whether the issue is dealing with performance, developing new service delivery concepts, customer recruitment, staff training…whatever I have ideas.  However sometimes even the best ideas don’t seem to be the right ones.

But then as I thought more about Finding The “I Can Help Sweet Spot” situation, I began to realize that this is NOT just a consultant challenge…it is an everyone who works with people challenge!

Today more than ever before it is critical to consider the “place” someone or an organization is before drafting and recommending alternative ways forward for them.  The problems and issues people/groups face today are not traditional or historic.  They are different and unique.

Next there is the question of “best fit”.  Based on YOUR experiences and knowledge YOU are confident that YOU can identify the best “I Can Help Sweet Spot.”  WRONG!  The most important consideration is THEIR experiences and knowledge and then how together find a best fit option to move them forward.

Finally, people who work with people need to be prepared to recognize that the Sweet Spot may move forward, backward or even side-to-side during the I Can Help process…and this is something no one can control.  It is just important to realize and accommodate.

So please keep these realizations in mind when Finding The “I Can Help Sweet Spot”! in your work/life.  Don’t think you are failing when your initial ideas and recommendations aren’t a winner.  Your authenticity and caring will be your most valuable asset.