Please write down in your agenda: 9th September 2010, Meeting to celebrate…and reflect. The evolution theory of Darwin also holds ground in consultancy!

Sharing knowledge with others takes place in many forms. Of course group training sessions is the first one would think of. But there are many more ways to share knowledge. Some traditional ones still exist, others, modern ones are emerging. One of those traditional ones: the independent professional who is contracted to solve a problem – known as “consultant”. He and sometime she, comes, talks, listens, studies, writes down findings, explains and withdraws again leaving the “client” with ideas, suggestions, solutions to implement and of course an invoice.

But in less than a decade this professional has come under attack. He is not needed anymore, being taken over by internal learning and knowledge management, (s)he is too expensive and does not add value, development 2.0 makes consultants redundant, the internet gives access to all information and thus knowledge, and of course “we know better ourselves….” And indeed conditions are changing fast: knowledge is ever more accessible and life-long self learning an integral part of modern managers…..

What will be the future of this professional? Is there still a place for the consultant? Will there still be people willing to pay for such services? Will individual persons be needed to share and build up knowledge? Can organisations not do it themselves?

If living conditions change, man always has adapted itself. So will the professional consultant now 20 years of age, as well evolve into “homo consultans 2.0”?

Want to join the debate? Let us know and we will invite you for our conference on 9 September 2010!