What are the primary skill sets you bring as a consultant? 
I am proactive in understanding the needs of clients when we start working together. It is important to understand their background, culture, and expectations before work begins. I come to the table with many potential solutions to a problem and work through the pro and cons of various approaches to the work. In each project I work on, I strive to understand the root causes and challenges that will drive us to a solution to the client’s need.
What’s your favorite part about being a consultant?
Watching research transform into positive change. I am motivated by helping others come to the solutions they need to implement based on applied research.
What do you see as the number one reason an organization should consider an external consultant?
External consultants are skilled at immersing themselves in organizations to enable advising on opportunities that had not been recognized internally. By building close relationships with stakeholders, consultants have the ability to be an objective advisor.
What do you see as the single largest difficulty organizations face?
Organizations are under immense pressure to compete with others in their industry while also keeping up with changing needs of their “customers” or people they serve.
What fictional organization would you most want to consult for?
Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital aka. Seattle Grace.
If you were a consulting superhero, what would your power be and how would you use it?
That would be nice! My power would be to guide stakeholders through the actions they need to take based on insights derived from research. The path to success would be clear and clients would feel that they shared in my superpowers, too.
What do you do outside of work?
I spend time with my family, do yoga, try new restaurants, and travel to new places.

This is the first in a series of spotlights on our consultants in a Q&A format to help you get to know our consultants!

What are the primary skill sets you bring as a consultant? 
I have received advanced graduate training in personnel selection, motivation and leadership, research and statistical analysis, employee training and development, organizational development, and work attitudes. I have experience consulting in the areas of management consulting and organizational development, in which I utilized my training to conduct organizational analyses and training needs assessments, along with developing and validating assessments.
What’s your favorite part about being a consultant?
My favorite part about being a consultant is being able to provide clients with quality solutions that will help their organizations thrive. I chose to become an organizational consultant so that I could apply psychological principles to the workplace and drive organizational effectiveness.
What do you see as the number one reason an organization should consider an external consultant?
I feel that the number one reason an organization should consider an external consultant is that external consultants provide organizations with a fresh perspective and objective recommendations.
What do you see as the single largest difficulty organizations face?
I feel that retaining key personnel and ensuring that there is buy in from employees in regards to the overarching organizational goals and culture is such an important piece that organizations should focus on, but that it can also be one of the largest challenges that organizations face.
What fictional organization would you most want to consult for?
Palmer Technologies because Ray Palmer, the CEO, is a man that believes in always doing the right thing. As a consultant, I feel that it is important to understand the values and ethics of the organizations that you work for, so as to ensure a match between their values and yours.
If you were a consulting superhero, what would your power be and how would you use it?
Enhanced awareness (detail intuition) so that I could go into any organization and automatically understand all aspects of the organization on day one. 
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work I am generally doing yoga or reading a good book.

Thanks, Janna!  Read more about Janna, and our other awesome consultants, here.

Stressed now that the year is heating up (while still be cold)?  You are not alone. 
Take 5 minutes and try these techniques to improve the next hour:

Close your eyes, breathe in deeply, and imagine your entire torso filling up with air.  Go ahead, try it.

Repeat 3x.

Stretch with your arms in three directions – overhead (stretch!), behind (stretch!), and in front (stretch!).

If you are seated, take a 2 minute walk – around your floor, your office, your home, your classroom – wherever you might find yourself!

While you are walking, think of something you want to tackle in the next half-hour, and when you return, you will likely feel more motivated to tackle it – without feeling so much of the stress!