Under our label The Ascent, we offer a tailor made training program consultancy for professionals who want to strengthen their advisory skills. You already have experience, perhaps the ambition to grow into a leadership or management role. Professionally, you have it all, but how:

• Do you create support and get your message across the stage?
• Are you building trust and connecting well with your interlocutor?
• Do you avoid wandering into details and stay short and to the point?

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Consultancy Training Program: Invest in Your Advisory Skills

During the training program consultancy at The Ascent, you will develop strong consultancy skills: sharp analysis and conclusion, create trust, give clear direction, present convincingly and implement tightly. We do this by:

• Plenary training courses and sessions in smaller groups
• Case studies and role plays
• Inspiring guest speakers
• Accountability partnerships for short learning goal cycles
• Support by a Summary with substantive issues
• Theory through books, videos, and articles

More control in conversations and space for the other person's perspective; from alone to together for better solutions.

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The Ascent - Advisory Skills Training: From Alone to Together

“Many organizations recognize it: strong professionals who do their substantive work excellently, but are stuck on support, trust and communication. So how do you really get your message across the stage? How do you ensure that you find a solution together? We see this often,” says Summiteer Jules van Merrienboer. The request to provide a training program came from a client who wanted to tackle this challenge precisely because of our consulting background. That's how it is training program consultancy created under The Ascent, with wider interest now.

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Working from Learning Objectives and Themes in the Consultancy Training Program

“I supervised the first group together with colleague Dolf L'Ortye, a group of 18 professionals.” This training program helps professionals with potential to develop in a targeted manner. We start with an intake that sets personal learning goals. In this way, everyone gets a customized program, with themes such as:

• Trouble creating support
• Woolly communication
• Have expertise but do not want to come to the forefront

“An important theme is creating support: how do you go from alone to together? Through various forms of work, participants learn essential skills from an advisor.” The sector is less relevant; this program is valuable for a variety of organizations.

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Four turns later: A completely different mindset

Often, the problem lies precisely in the strong content craftsmanship. “Professionals are sometimes four turns away in their thinking, while others need to be able to contribute ideas at the table. They listen too little and are mainly focused on solving problems themselves. This is not a bad intention, but a result-oriented focus that prevents communication.”

“After the process, it's often: 'I think I know which way to go, but I also listen to others so that the result is better. '”

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The Added Value of the Consultancy Training Program: Learning Together

At The Ascent, we tailor the program, based on personal learning goals and themes. We combine theory and practice with training and role-playing. Whether you participate individually or with colleagues: the strength lies in the group process. Learning together, sharing experiences and sparring accelerate the learning process. Accountability partners discuss their goals every week, supported by a Summary that guides the process.

“The participants are taking big steps. We are not trainers, but advisors who coach and provide tools based on practical experience.”

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Building blocks of the Consultancy Training Program

After the intake, a kick-off follows. Sometimes we invite guest speakers, such as Katja Staartjes, first Dutch woman on Mount Everest. She makes the link between mountaineering and complex issues within organizations: together, you can reach the top.

The program consists of plenary training courses, smaller group sessions and case studies with actors to practice practical behavior and reinforce learning points. Participants form couples for weekly conversations in an accountability partnership, accompanied by a Summiteer. There is also room to discuss personal issues with a consultant. Self-study with relevant books and articles is included.

“From alone to together, that's what we help professionals with. They get more control over conversations and really make room for the other person's perspective.”

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Doing Your Work With a New Mindset

This process requires weekly time, at least six months. “It is an intensive program, but also an honor to participate. Your employer is investing in your next step.” The result? A completely different mindset: no longer just focusing on content, but also taking on an advisory and facilitating role. “After this consultancy training program, you will experience meetings completely differently, and that brings you a lot.”

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Getting started with your development

Do you want to strengthen your advisory skills and collaborate more effectively? Discover The Ascent can do for you.

Plan one introductory meeting or start right away with a intake to map out your personal learning goals. More information can be found on the website of The Ascent.

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