The hidden potential in the team
Peer consulting is a valuable tool for making the most of the knowledge and experience available in teams and organizations. It is well known that every team has enormous potential in terms of knowledge and expertise. Even colleagues who do not work directly in your particular specialist area can often offer valuable insights and innovative solutions through peer consulting. The trick is to combine these diverse perspectives in a way that creates a productive and collaborative exchange.
Structured advice instead of random ideas
You do not need external consultants to act as moderators for this method. Peer consulting relies on the expertise within the team and it can be done by you and your colleagues. However, this is not about collecting spontaneous ideas in informal discussions, which often only leads to serendipitously good results. Instead, peer consulting takes a structured approach to ensure that everyone involved can contribute their ideas and suggestions in the best possible way.
The clear process of peer consulting
The aim of peer consulting is to develop solutions for specific professional issues. The consultation follows a clearly defined process with fixed roles. One participant raises a specific issue and the other colleagues advise him or her according to a defined process. At first glance, this structure may seem unusual and some people find it restrictive. However, it is precisely this fixed procedure within peer consulting that makes it possible to find new and creative solutions that might not come to light in a less structured environment.
If you are curious about how peer consulting works in practice, take a look at our short explanatory video in German with english subtitles:
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Weitere Informationen
On our portal you will find a more detailed description of the “peer consulting” method and other free methods.
Further reading
Brenda Steinberg and Michael D. Watkins also address the “Surprising Power of Peer Coaching” in the Harvard Business Review, describing a somewhat broader topic than the very narrowly defined peer consulting described here. In addition to our description, this article offers valuable insights into the benefits of small group coaching. It shows how managers develop crucial leadership skills through real group dynamics, diverse perspectives and mutual support. Read for yourself.
