We live — and work — in a world that feels increasingly complex. Organizations are stretched thin, trust is extremely fragile, and it seems like every day, leaders are being asked to do more with less.
In the midst of uncertainty, it’s easy to slip into survival mode. Solve the problem. Meet the deadline. Move on.
But what if consulting — whether internal or external — could offer something more? What if it could be a stabilizing force in chaotic times?
In over 40 years of doing this work, we have witnessed how Flawless Consulting® is more than just a workshop for consultants—it’s a compass for anyone trying to lead with clarity, integrity, and courage, even when things feel uneasy.
Especially in fast-moving environments, it’s tempting to skip over relationship-building in favor of jumping straight to the solution. However, as Peter Block teaches, the most effective consultants and leaders understand that building relationships and trust is foundational to genuine progress.
Relationships require clarity. They require certainty about our wants and the courage to express them fearlessly. Building relationships isn’t a process that can necessarily be expedited. It can be slower, but that steadiness can lead to sustainable outcomes that make all the difference.
Flawless Consulting provides us both a methodology and a mindset to:
• Slow down enough to contract clearly and openly
• Name what we want and invite others to do the same
• Manage resistance without overpowering or avoiding it
These skills enable us to build relationships that can withstand complexity, tension, and change, especially in times of crisis.
Chaotic times often prompt our instinct to control outcomes, people, or processes. Flawless Consulting offers an alternative stance: partnership.
Rather than trying to fix others or carry the burden alone, the Flawless methodology is about shared responsibility. Flawless Consulting invites us to co-create clarity, even when outcomes are uncertain. That shift — from being a pair of hands or an expert to being a partner — is what makes work meaningful. In other words, the way through the storm isn’t control — it’s connection.
What You Want Matters Too
In the midst of these chaotic times, it can be easy to put the needs of your organization, your coworkers, and your clients first. Sure, it’s important to understand how you can be useful to others as the world around them is changing. It’s equally important to consider yourself too.
Whether you are partnering with someone else to get work done or rescoping work that’s already been in progress, these chaotic times should prompt you to consider: What do I want? Flawless Consulting teaches you to ask for what you want – not merely to satisfy your own personal whims and wishes but enable you and the people you are supporting to succeed. By putting your wants into words as simply and directly as possible, you are treating your relationship as a true partnership.
We get it, consulting skills aren’t the first necessities that come to mind when times are tough. But the truth is, this is when they matter most.
At Designed Learning, we operate at the intersection of meaning and methodology. Flawless Consulting doesn’t just give you steps to follow — it gives you a way to show up with integrity, even when everything feels uncertain.
