Consulting Matters

In this episode, I break down the difference, the trap most of us fall into, and how you can start shifting into the role that positions your consulting or coaching for greater influence.

This is the question I’m diving into as I kick off my new series, From Service Provider to Strategic Partner.

I’ll walk you through the difference between being a service provider by choice (and why that can be a great fit), versus falling into the accidental service provider trap. We’ll also explore what it means to step into the role of strategic partner, why it matters, and how it sets you up for greater impact and income.

I’ll share:

If you’ve been hustling for piecemeal gigs, stuck in labor intensive projects or billing by the hour but know you’re capable of more — this episode will help you see a new path forward.

Reflect on and then choose what works best for you — service provider or strategic partner. If strategic partner is your answer (but you’re not there yet), notice what mindset shifts you’re already seeing that you need to make so you can be open to the new approaches I’ll be sharing in the coming episodes.

And when you’re done listening, grab my free Discovery Meeting Script at betsyjordyn.com/discovery-meeting-script. It’ll show you the exact questions to ask — and how to ask them — so you can start making this shift in your very next client conversation.

I’m also launching a new group coaching program that turns these partnership principles into action. You’ll get step-by-step guidance and peer support to make this process your own and immediately level up your impact and income — starting with your very next client. Email me at [email protected] if you want early access details (and an exclusive discount for early action.)

About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand positioning and messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 30 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling.

Ready to turn your expertise into a high-impact, high-income consulting or coaching business? Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services   

Too often, Lean consultants and improvement practitioners have the skills and tools to create massive transformation but struggle to communicate their value in a way that resonates with executives and decision-makers.

In this bonus episode, I sit down with Katie Anderson, internationally recognized leadership and Lean consultant, to talk about why positioning and language matter just as much as technical expertise. Together, we unpack the challenges practitioners face when they rely on jargon and how reframing your message in terms of outcomes, people, and business value opens doors to greater influence.

Why Lean practitioners often undersell their impact by focusing on tools instead of transformation

How to drop jargon and speak in language executives immediately understand

The power of positioning yourself as a strategic partner, not just a process expert

Why “respect for people” is not just a Lean principle but a compelling value proposition

Practical tips to reframe your message so it connects to both business results and human impact

If you have ever felt frustrated that leaders do not understand what you do, this episode is for you. Katie and I dig into the real reason. It is not that your work lacks value. It is that the way you describe it may not bridge the gap between process improvement and business outcomes.

This conversation will help you reimagine how you talk about your expertise so that you are seen not as a support function but as an indispensable partner in driving organizational success.

(00:10) Empowering Lean Consultants Through Positioning
(11:59) Developing Lean Culture for Employee Engagement
(16:48) Framing Value Transformation for Lean Implementation
(22:58) Aligning Consultants for Organizational Transformation
(32:57) Creating a Unified Vision for Change
(44:29) Articulating Value and Impact in Lean
(50:03) Measuring and Communicating Lean Value

Check out my other episode where Katie and I dive into the ROI of her positioning and messaging transformation. AND you can see the full case study on Katie's brand positioning transformation here.

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About the guest:  Katie Anderson is an internationally recognized leadership consultant, professional speaker, and learning enthusiast, who inspires and equips purpose-driven leaders create organizational learning cultures that foster innovation, engagement, and continuous improvement. A skilled change agent, Katie has empowered tens of thousands of global leaders across diverse industries to transform their cultures and accelerate individual and organizational impact. Katie is the author of the bestselling book Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn, which has received multiple international awards, including the Shingo Publication Award, and has been translated into over eight languages. Katie is also the host of the transformational leadership podcast Chain of Learning®. Katie holds a BA with honors from Stanford University and was a Fulbright Scholar in Australia, where she received her Master’s degree in public health policy. A global citizen who has lived in seven countries, Katie regularly hosts an immersive Japan Leadership Experience for global leaders looking to deepen their knowledge of people-centered leadership and operational excellence.

About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 20 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling.

Ready to turn your expertise into a business that makes both impact and income? Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services  

You bet it does!

If you have been thinking that working on this is a nice-to-have marketing or coaching exercise when you have more money to invest or clients... think again. Especially in today’s confusing and complex market.

Today we’re talking about the powerful, rock-solid return on your investment of money, time and talents in elevating your positioning in the market and enhancing how you frame up, describe, pitch and price what you do with my guest Katie Anderson.

She was on the show back in episode 35 over 3 years when she first became my client. When started our work together, Katie was already successful... as a Shingo Award winning author of Leading to Learn and Learning to Lead and sought-after keynote speaker. Still, despite her opportunities, she knew how she was writing and talking about what she did was holding her back from her next stage of success and impact.

Can you relate to the struggle of knowing that you have so much value you create for your clients but not have the words to describe it and how it affects the results you get from your networking, the quality of offers you put in front of clients, your pricing and so much more?

Can you also relate to the struggling of investing time and money in fixing this when it either seems like something you shouldn’t be struggling with or soft?

This is exactly what Katie, and I get into onto today’s show.

When you tune in, you’ll hear first-hand from Katie on the powerful ROI she has gotten from not just investing in elevating her foundational brand messaging but also her approach to landing clients, her online presence and more!

We chat about Katie’s journey from hourly contractor to sought-after thought leader and premium brand and the lessons learned along with the way.

If you struggle conveying the value of what you do in your networking, website, offers, proposals, and pricing and it’s holding you back from the success and impact you want as a consultant or coach, in general or specifically in today’s confusing times and want to know if it’s worth your money and time to fix it, this is the episode for you.

And if you’re an operational excellence, lean, continuous learning practitioner – you’re going to love this episode and the bonus one that Katie and I recorded that follows this one on that is specific to your messaging and positioning challenges.

(00:00) Elevating Brand Positioning for Revenue
(06:50) Shifting Business Focus for Growth
(20:15) Creating Value Through Client Collaboration
(26:12) Clarifying Value and Target Audience
(35:22) Transformative Value and Mindset Shift
(48:46) Reigniting Purposeful Consulting Relationships
(01:02:06) Empowering Consultants for Purposeful Growth
(01:06:34) Improving Leader Understanding of Lean

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About the guest:  Katie Anderson is an internationally recognized leadership consultant, professional speaker, and learning enthusiast, who inspires and equips purpose-driven leaders create organizational learning cultures that foster innovation, engagement, and continuous improvement. A skilled change agent, Katie has empowered tens of thousands of global leaders across diverse industries to transform their cultures and accelerate individual and organizational impact. Katie is the author of the bestselling book Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn, which has received multiple international awards, including the Shingo Publication Award, and has been translated into over eight languages. Katie is also the host of the transformational leadership podcast Chain of Learning®. Katie holds a BA with honors from Stanford University and was a Fulbright Scholar in Australia, where she received her Master’s degree in public health policy. A global citizen who has lived in seven countries, Katie regularly hosts an immersive Japan Leadership Experience for global leaders looking to deepen their knowledge of people-centered leadership and operational excellence.

About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 20 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling.

Ready to turn your expertise into a business that makes both impact and income? Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services  

You might think employee engagement is best created by HR. Think again.

In this episode of the Consulting Matters podcast, I’m joined by Tom West and Mark Ryan of Green Dot Consulting - self-proclaimed improvement nerds on a mission to rescue the world from bad processes.

If you’re a consultant or coach who wants to help your clients improve performance and engagement (especially in these uncertain times), this conversation is a must-listen.  We unpack why process improvement isn’t just about efficiency…

…it’s a powerful, people-first strategy that boosts morale, productivity, and performance all at once!

Tune in to discover:

 Listen now and get ready to become an improvement nerd yourself (if you’re not already).

(00:00) The Power of Lean for Engagement
(04:59) Passion for Process Improvement
(11:42) Uncovering Employee Engagement Gaps
(27:20) The Value of Employee Engagement
(37:58) Collaboration for Operational Excellence
(49:19) Empowering People for Success
(58:33) Uncovering Lean Process Improvement Value

About the guests: 

Thomas West, founder of GreenDot, is an “Improvement Nerd” with a rare ASQ Master Black Belt and a string of other credentials that prove he’s as good with strategy as he is with a stopwatch. A PMP, Organizational Change Management pro, and Malcolm Baldrige Examiner, Thomas helps organizations go from good to great by building cultures where ideas flourish and change sticks. When he’s not improving processes, he’s training for endurance races or visiting National Parks with his wife and three sons, on track to see them all before the boys graduate.

Mark Ryan is a process improvement and operational leader at GreenDot, where he drives organizational change from the ground up. He empowers teams through Lean Six Sigma training and workshops, helping companies eliminate waste, boost efficiency, and build a culture of daily improvement.

About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 20 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling.

Ready to turn your expertise into a business that makes both impact and income? Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services  

If you have been working with organizations, as a leader or a consultant, I'd hedge a bet that you'd agree.

But what if we have all gotten this completely wrong! 

What if everything we believe about employee engagement and what organizations are pumping billions of dollars into can't and will never work, or not how we think it will?

To explore what the real alternative is to employee engagement and what is actually needed to create workplaces that have respect for people at their core... I'm bringing on the Consulting Matters podcast, Beverly Crowell. 

She is the Managing Partner of Peter Block's Designed Learning, an organization that creates structured learning experiences that awaken a sense of purpose to create organizations that serve the common good. 

Tune in now to discover:

If you're an organizational consultant or coach (particularly in organization development, HR, L&D, and Lean), passionate about creating workplaces that have respect for people at their core, this is the conversation you will NOT want to miss. 

Where to dive in:

(00:00) Reimagining Employee Engagement in Organizations
(08:41) Redefining Employee Engagement Ownership
(14:10) Revolutionizing Employee Engagement in Organizations
(27:58) Empowering Entrepreneurial Mindset in Organizations
(40:24) Contracting for Effective Consulting Partnerships
(47:32) Empowering Organizational Relationships Through Partnership

About the guest: Beverly Crowell is the Managing Partner at Designed Learning, the for-profit arm of Peter Block’s work. With over 15 years of experience across consulting, talent management, and organizational development, Beverly brings deep expertise in helping organizations reimagine how they engage, develop, and lead their people. She’s worked with Fortune 500 companies across industries, from aerospace to healthcare and is a contributing author to several leading handbooks on leadership and talent. A sought-after speaker and facilitator, Beverly is known for her ability to challenge assumptions and spark meaningful change. She lives in Merritt Island, Florida, with her husband and two children. 

About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 20 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling.

Ready to turn your expertise into a business that makes both impact and income? Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services  

When you think about the work we do as consultants and coaches, it’s easy to focus on deliverables, frameworks, and strategies. But beneath all that lies a deeper truth:
What is the real power we bring—especially when we don’t have formal authority?

In this episode, I’m diving into some of the most meaningful questions facing our profession today:

These are not easy questions. But they are the ones that matter. And that’s exactly why I invited none other than Peter Block to join me for this conversation.

Peter is the author of Flawless Consulting, the book so many of us in this field consider the Bible of our profession. I first read it when I was a brand-new OD consultant at Disney—and re-reading it during my sabbatical reminded me just how deeply Peter’s thinking has shaped my own.

This conversation is both personally meaningful and professionally transformative. Peter shares his insights on consulting with integrity, power without authority, and how we can help build organizations that serve the common good, even in the face of short-term thinking and rising social challenges.

Why Peter Block originally resisted writing Flawless Consulting—and what changed his mind

How consultants can influence without control or authority

Why “how we are with each other” matters more than what we say

Simple, transformational questions that deepen client conversations

The deeper purpose of consulting as a force for social good

(0:00:02) - The Value of Consulting in Organizations
(0:12:52) - The Ethical Role of Consultants
(0:19:05) - The Illusion of Control and Power
(0:25:24) - Embracing Agency in Consulting Relationships
(0:31:47) - Shifting Perspectives in Consulting Relationships
(0:40:01) - Exploring Empowerment and Collaboration Journey
(0:48:38) - Navigating Organizational Shifts and Values
(0:59:59) - Embodying the Common Good Philosophy
(1:13:03) - Building a Community of Purpose-Driven Consultants

Inspired by Peter Block’s take on purpose-driven consulting? Take the next step and reclaim your own power with Betsy Jordyn’s free audio training + workbook: From Playing Small to Playing True
Discover the proven strategies to gain the clarity and confidence you need to attract the consulting or coaching clients, impact, and income you're truly ready for—even in challenging times. Access it free here and start building a business that reflects your true value.

About the guest: Peter Block is an author and citizen of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the co-founder of Designed Learning, a training company that offers workshops designed to build the skills outlined in his books. Peter is part of the Common Good Alliance of Greater Cincinnati and was a member of his local neighborhood council. His books include Activating the Common Good, Confronting Our Freedom, Flawless Consulting, Stewardship, The Answer to How Is Yes, Community, and The Abundant Community. His work is in the restoraDon of the common good and creaDng a world that reclaims our humanity from the onslaught of modernism. Peter’s honors and awards include the Organization Development Network's 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award and its 2004 first-place Members' Choice Award in recognition of his book Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used (1999) as the most influential book for Organizational Development practitioners over the past 40 years. He is the recipient of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) Award for Distinguished Contributions and the Association for Quality and Participation President's Award; he has also been named to Training Magazine's HRD Hall of Fame. www.designedlearning.com www.peterblock.com

About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 20 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling.

Ready to turn your expertise into a business that makes both impact and income? Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services  

What does it look like to step into new levels of impact, especially if you don’t have dreams of growing a firm or leading a global enterprise?

I’m diving into these questions and more as I take you behind the scenes of my latest brand relaunch – which after months of strategy, design, copywriting and more – it’s finally done.

What I don’t want to do in this episode is to make it about promotion. If I did a good job, my website should do that work for me. It’s about the lessons I learned that were uniquely powerful in this particular brand relaunch, which was an unexpected outcome of my 7-month sabbatical that I can’t seem to stop talking about.

(0:00:12) - Scaling Up Success as Solopreneur Consultant

(0:12:15) - Elevating Your Solopreneur Business

(0:15:53) - Transforming My Business Brand and Message

Next steps:

About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 20 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling.

Ready to turn your expertise into a business that makes both impact and income? Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services  

As a consulting or coaching business owner, you know that sustainable and scalable success depends on your client pipeline, filled with the right clients who are excited to work with you and invest in your partnership.

I’d hedge a bet that you agree.

But what if a dream of “referrals on repeat” is actually stands in the way from consistent client attraction and quietly keeps you stuck?

In this episode of the Consulting Matters Podcast, I'll be sharing all about the “relying on referrals trap" - when we are completely dependent on our referral network for lead generation - why it's so easy to fall into and how to get out of it!

If you’ve been waiting for the right people to send clients your way, but you’re ready to be in the driver’s seat, this episode is for you.

(0:00:00) - The Relying on Referrals Trap
(0:13:16) - The Referral Network Trap
(0:28:17) - Leveraging Websites and LinkedIn for Marketing
(0:33:01) - Building Client Relationships for Growth

About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 20 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling.

Ready to turn your expertise into a business that makes both impact and income? Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services  

Picture this.

You’re at a point where you ready to take your consulting or coaching business to the next level and you’re finally ready to leave your leadership career to start your own business, or build something of your own after getting by with referrals or going after more strategic client work.

You know that what you got you here while great…isn’t enough to get you where you want to go.

You feel the gap. You know you're capable of more. But your brand, your message, your offers, your website and approach to getting clients - they're not quite lining up with the level you’re aiming for.

Can you relate? If so, pay close attention to this episode where I share with you what you need to do get everything re-aligned to your next level of success and impact as a consultant, coach and business owner.

(0:00:00) - Strategic Positioning for Consultants and Coaches
(0:06:43) - Accelerating Success Through Listening and Clarity
(0:14:01) - Crafting Clear Brand Positioning and Messaging
(0:24:43) - Strategic Positioning and Website Myths
(0:35:40) - Empowering Consultants and Coaches for Success
(0:45:24) - Podcast Promotion Strategy

Tune in to discover how you can say goodbye to hit or miss client attraction, stalled out progress and settling for less than your potential and say hello to flow -  A predictable client pipeline filled with the right clients who are ready and excited to invest in your strategic consulting or coaching partnership!

When you’re done listening, I got four brand-new guides to help you refine your messaging, master your discovery meeting, get your website done faster and build a foundation for using your ideas to attract and warm up the right clients. Click here to get instant access: www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads

About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 20 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling.

Ready to turn your expertise into a business that makes both impact and income? Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services 

In this on-air coaching session, I sit down with Brenda Reiss—a remarkable forgiveness coach with a unique perspective on transformation and empowerment. Brenda’s journey spans a 30-year corporate career and personal challenges, and she’s redefined her coaching practice to focus on empowering women in midlife. Her experience coping with her husband’s dementia diagnosis has inspired her to expand her services beyond forgiveness coaching, helping women reclaim their identities and live authentically.

Together, we unpack the complexities of rebranding and the importance of creating a brand that resonates with personal growth and transformation. I guide Brenda through aligning her coaching practice with her powerful story—helping her stand out and connect with the women she’s called to serve.

For high-achieving women navigating the often-turbulent waters of personal relationships, this episode is a treasure trove of insights. Professional success doesn’t always translate into personal fulfillment, and Brenda shares the emotional challenges faced by women who excel at work but struggle at home. We explore the disconnect that arises from toxic relationship dynamics and the journey towards self-empowerment that ultimately leads to personal happiness—independent of external relationships.

Brenda’s multifaceted coaching approach—blending forgiveness, money, and grief coaching—addresses the unique needs of high-achieving women. She offers a personalized, judgment-free space where clients gain clarity and empowerment to make conscious decisions. Throughout our conversation, I highlight the critical role of effective brand positioning for coaches, emphasizing transformation and outcome-focused language that attracts and engages clients.

The most common positioning mistakes consultants and coaches make (and how to fix them)

What you’re really listening for when you do a market scan — and why it matters

What you need to get clear on to make your competition irrelevant

How to articulate the unique and powerful value your clients get only from working with you

(0:00:12) — Rebranding and Repositioning a Coaching Business

(0:10:16) — Navigating High-Achieving Women's Relationships

(0:22:50) — Understanding High-Achieving Women's Relationships

(0:31:05) — Empathy and Credibility in Coaching

(0:39:48) — Customized Coaching for High-Achieving Women

(0:50:46) — Effective Brand Positioning for Coaches

How to Clarify Your Brand Promise (and Why It Matters)

How to Build a Brand That Connects with Your Audience

Creating a Personal Brand Story That Resonates

Positioning Your Consulting Brand for Impact

About the guest: Brenda Reiss is a transformative forgiveness coach who empowers women in midlife to heal from toxic patterns and reclaim their authentic selves. With over 30 years of experience—including time in the corporate world and caring for a spouse with dementia—Brenda blends forgiveness, money, and grief coaching to help high-achieving women create clarity, confidence, and purpose in every area of life. https://brendareisscoaching.com/ 

About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 20 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling.

Ready to turn your expertise into a business that makes both impact and income? Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services