Note from the Incoming President

It’s an honor for me to accept the position of President for the Rochester Professional Consulting Network. An organization with a proud past and exciting future.

As I refer to its proud past, I wish to acknowledge the achievements of our outgoing president Devin Floyd . Devin’s passion for change and his extremely kind nature has built a strong foundation for this organization.

As we move forward, I would like to focus on building RPCN to even greater heights of ongoing success. With the help of our board members, new, and existing members, I would like to set in motion a post pandemic culture that will be both productive and exciting.

I have over 40 years in the workplace. Managing processes and people for 30 years, and presently owning my own financial practice. I believe that by putting 110% effort into any project we will always reap the rewards.

It’s a privilege to have such an experienced and knowledgeable membership and Board to work with as we grow together. The members are what makes an organization successful, not one person. So, I want to make sure you all know how much I value and respect each of you.

Respectfully,
Tina Rohring

Do Consultants Need a Code of Ethics? (Or should they just “do the right thing”?)

Ethical Behavior: Do you ever wonder if your interactions with a client are ethical? A personal code of ethics can help you deal ethically with clients. Your code should be consistent with your professional and moral values, and be specific enough to be meaningful. If a client has ethical concerns, a code can enable you to have productive, up-front discussions about those concerns. If you publish your code, it might influence a potential client to engage you instead of a consultant without a code. Here is an example to consider for your Code of Ethics (Modify it to fit your situation).

Example Consultant Code of Ethics (As needed, begin with “Consultant will ... ”)

1. Integrity

Conduct client interactions with honesty, transparency, and respect.

2. Confidentiality

Keep all client information private. Do not intentionally or inadvertently disclose it to others. If disclosure to others is necessary, get client permission, including limits of disclosure.

3. Objectivity

Thoroughly determine and analyze a client’s needs. Recommend the appropriate service that can fulfill those needs. Resist the urge to see every potential client as needing your services.

4. Competence

Be qualified to deliver the needed service. If not qualified, admit it and suggest alternative solutions (e.g. Refer client to a qualified consultant, etc.). Do not experiment at a client’s expense.

5. Conflicts of interest

Reveal to the client all existing and potential issues that could jeopardize the objectivity of your work with the client. No conflicts of interest will be hidden from clients.

6. Fees

Disclose the amounts of all fees, and get client agreement prior to project start (no hidden fees). Once work progresses, renegotiate fees if project scope significantly changes (no surprises).

7. Non-Dependence

Strive to make the client self-sufficient and not need your service after project completion. Do not perform in such a way that makes the client dependent upon you.

8. Client Agreement

Get agreement in writing before a project starts. This can reduce the number of ethical decisions you may need to make during a project. Up front discussions about key project elements can bring to the surface potential ethical issues such as  confidentiality, service(s) to be performed and by whom, project duration, cancelation, expected results, performance and completion measures, fee structure, payment schedule, expected results, and who owns and has rights to original work produced during the project.

9. Respectful Confrontation

Be willing to tell a client the hard truth, especially when they are the source of the problem. (For example, a client-manager engaged you to help solve a problem with employees, but the manager is causing the problem by acting like a dictator).

10. Ethical Dilemmas

An ethical dilemma can occur when a consultant is faced with alternatives where the “right” or “ethical” thing to do is not obvious. When faced with an ethical dilemma that affects the welfare of a client, the consultant will strive to ethically decide in favor of the client.

Questions:

• Do you have a code of ethics, or just “do the right thing”? (Why/why not)?
• Do you publish your code for clients to see?
• Can raising the issue of Ethics cause more harm than good?

I welcome your comments. Please send them to Bob Lurz at RFLurz@ConsultantsAccelerator.com

—Bob Lurz

RPCN Members Encouraged
to Blog for Website

The RPCN Blogging Committee is looking for more blogs to post. You must be a member to submit a blog. The Rules for Writing a Blog and the Submission Process can be found here.

There are currently seven topics for blogs on the website, and the number of topics may expand in the future. Currently, they are:

• General Articles
• Sales/Marketing
• Technical Articles
• Project Management
• Leadership
• Operations
• Finances

Not all of the topics have blogs in them. That’s why we’re looking for submissions. Submissions can be sent to RPCNblogging@rochesterconsultants.org.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Sandy Glanton, the RPCN Blogging Editor, at sglanton34@gmail.com.

Did You Know?  RPCN Values

RPCN is an important organization and its members are also important. Together we provide the community with programs, workshops, forums, and other activities that are meaningful and appropriate. We should all be proud.

To accomplish all of this, every year, RPCN generates a Strategic Plan . This year, included in the Strategic Plan is a set of Values. These are intended to document guidelines for our members and to help non-members know how our organization operates.

As RPCN members and consultants, it is important that we are all familiar with and understand these values. They are short, easy to remember, and make sense. Here they are:

RPCN Values

Integrity

We are ethical, honest, and transparent in all interactions with clients and each other.

Mutual Respect

We strive to make members and guests feel respected. We endeavor to treat people as they wish to be treated. Everyone’s input is encouraged and valued. We create an environment that promotes inclusiveness in all aspects.

Mutual Support

We work together to achieve our individual and common goals. We willingly collaborate with and help each other.

Community Support

We encourage and enable “giving back” to community businesses and organizations through alliances, volunteering, and other opportunities.

Now you know RPCN’s values. Get familiar with them. They will help guide you in your consulting efforts.

—Steve Royal

RPCN Video

Watch the introductory video here.

Upcoming RPCN Events

Visit the RPCN website for a list of all upcoming events.

Enhancing Human Capital
Lunch & Learn Updates

Report on RPCN Enhancing Human Capital Meeting – June 17 – via Zoom.

This month’s Lunch-and-Learn meeting continued to focus on building trust as discussed in Stephen Covey’s ”Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” We had about twelve attendees. The discussion was lively and centered around the 7th Habit – “Sharpening the Saw – Principles of Balanced Self Renewal.”

Our discussion primarily focused on two aspects of this habit – the dimensions of renewal (physical, mental, core/center, and social/emotional) and what Covey refers to as “scripting.” The discussion about the four dimensions of renewal focused primarily on which aspects of the first six habits each was guided by, and on how important the first Habit (Be Proactive) is in setting a foundation for the subsequent habits.

The discussion on scripting (essentially the paradigms through which we see ourselves and others, and which can be altered through imagination and conscience) was focused primarily on how we can affect the scripts of others, ideally in a positive manner. This discussion was so interesting that we agreed we would like to discuss it further at a future EHC session.

July’s “Enhancing Human Capital” meeting

Please join us on July 15 at 11:30 on Zoom for the next in our continuing series of Lunch-n-Learns. This will be a discussion about Thriving in Entrepreneurial Culture and will be facilitated by Bob Lewis.

July’s discussion will focus on understanding the entrepreneurial spirit, so that we can all understand what it is,  that it is something with which we are all familiar, and that we could all benefit from learning more. We will explore what makes us entrepreneurs and how these traits can be cultivated in our own spheres. Prior notification will be sent.

About “Lunch & Learn”

These monthly sessions are designed to illuminate more of the body of work entitled “Enhancing Human Capital” and designed to help managers and entrepreneurs to understand how to improve their business by improving their people. To get more information about EHC, please contact the EHC team at EHC@rochesterconsultants.org.

Membership Information

Not an RPCN member? You can join RPCN now to receive great benefits, including free admission to RPCN presentations, a listing in the RPCN Member Directory, and discounts to RPCN events. Click here for more information on joining RPCN.

Program Ad Sheets

At every RPCN meeting, and at our events and tradeshow booths, RPCN distributes the Program Ad sheets.

Ads are inexpensive and support RPCN. The cost for members to advertise is $20 for 2 months. For non-members, the cost is $40 for 2 months. The deadline to get your ad included in the September/October 2021 calendar ad sheet is August 20, 2021. Sign up for your ad here.

We want your news!