From Researcher to Consultant: Building Influence and Impact

The Need
Today’s insights professionals are no longer valued simply for their technical skills or reporting results. Business leaders expect them to act as trusted business advisors—answering critical questions like:

• What do these results mean for the business?
• What actions should we take?
• How can we activate these insights to drive outcomes?
  
  

As one senior insights leader told us, “Insights without action are pointless.  Your job is to inspire leaders and connect data to decisions that drive growth.”

The Opportunity
To meet these expectations, researchers must develop the skills of business-savvy consultants: reframing stakeholder questions to uncover the real business issues, building credibility and trust, and translating data into stories that move organizations to act.

The Program
Over two half days, participants will:

• Explore what it means to operate as a consultant within an insights function.
  
  
• Learn to prioritize and understand stakeholders—not just their business needs, but also their personal drivers.
  
  
• Examine the four levels of consulting service and how to define success for stakeholders at each level.
  
  
• Practice proven tools and approaches consultants use to uncover issues, apply empathy and appreciative inquiry, and reframe findings for maximum business relevance.
  
  
• Build storytelling and activation skills to ensure insights drive action across the organization.
  
  

The Result
Participants will leave with both the mindset and toolkit to elevate their role—from researcher to trusted consultant—ready to influence decisions, inspire action, and increase the impact of insights in their organizations.