--- title: TA-DA! A Peek behind the Consultative Curtain description: A consultative contractor can make your life (and job) easier. Read this blog to learn how McKinnon-Mulherin professionals stay consultative. image: https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hubfs/TA-DA!%20A%20Peek%20Behind%20the%20Consultative%20Curtain%20%281%29.webp --- [![McKinnon-Mulherin Logo](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/McKinnonMulherin_May2022/images/MM_WRITE_STAFF_BADGE_COLOR-240x240b.png?width=240&height=405&name=MM_WRITE_STAFF_BADGE_COLOR-240x240b.png "McKinnon-Mulherin Logo")](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/) [![McKinnon-Mulherin Logo](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/McKinnonMulherin_May2022/images/MM_CONSULTING_STACKED_COLOR-500w-space-at-bottom.png?width=500&height=405&name=MM_CONSULTING_STACKED_COLOR-500w-space-at-bottom.png "McKinnon-Mulherin Logo")](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/) - [Home](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com) - [About](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/about-us) - [Press Releases](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/press-releases) - [Careers](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/careers) - [Services](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/services) - [Sales & Business Communication](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/sales-business-communication) - [Learning Solutions](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/learning-solutions/) - [Technical Writing](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/technical-writing) - [Double-Check Proofreading](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/double-check) - [Blog](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/contact-us) 801.895.4745 [info@mcmul.com](mailto:info@mcmul.com) [Previous](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/saving-our-clients-vital-training-from-the-death-of-flash) [Next](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/warm-lemonade-with-honeyand-other-tips-for-enhancing-elearning-with-narration) [![TA-DA! A Peek behind the Consultative Curtain](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hubfs/TA-DA!%20A%20Peek%20Behind%20the%20Consultative%20Curtain%20%281%29.webp)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hubfs/TA-DA!%20A%20Peek%20Behind%20the%20Consultative%20Curtain%20%281%29.webp) # TA-DA! A Peek behind the Consultative Curtain Being consultative can sometimes feel like a lesson in mind reading. While we aren’t magicians at McMul, we *are* dedicated to making our clients’ lives easier. For example, we recently came up with a plan to reduce a knowledge retention kit by 88 percent while simultaneously creating more value for our client. How did we pull this rabbit out of our hat? It was as easy as TA-DA! ## **T –** Tune in, gather information, and listen to what’s wanted During a three-year learning solutions project, our client wanted us to create a knowledge retention kit so they could update the e-learning modules we created down the road. Specifically, they wanted individual templates with process triggers for each module. ## **A** – Ask smart questions to uncover underlying needs After hearing what was desired, we felt this kit didn’t align with our client’s underlying needs, so we asked questions. For example: Was it reasonable to manage and regularly update 145 document templates? ## **D** – Discover solutions based on best practices Our team combined what we knew from our client with our professional experience to present an alternative solution. We pitched a kit tailored to identify specific module updates, indicate process triggers, and gather information for new modules. Best of all, it required only seventeen documents. ## **A** – Align on expectations and decisions After seeing an example, the client loved this new direction because it would drastically cut down on their work while offering a more focused review process. When you hire McMul to create a solution, we listen to what you want, but we don’t stop there. We dig deeper to provide a solution that makes your life easier because it truly meets your needs. Have too much on your plate or a tricky problem? Call us to work some consultative magic! By [Paige Frame and Ted Twinting](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/author/paige-frame-and-ted-twinting) | December 8th, 2020 | Categories: [Internal communication](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/internal-communication), [Career](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/career) #### Share This Story, Choose Your Platform! [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/ta-da-a-peak-behind-the-consultative-curtain&t=TA-DA!%20A%20Peek%20behind%20the%20Consultative%20Curtain) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/ta-da-a-peak-behind-the-consultative-curtain&text=https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/ta-da-a-peak-behind-the-consultative-curtain) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/ta-da-a-peak-behind-the-consultative-curtain&title=TA-DA!%20A%20Peek%20behind%20the%20Consultative%20Curtain&summary=Being%20consultative%20can%20sometimes%20feel%20like%20a%20lesson%20in%20mind%20reading.%20While%20we%20aren’t%20magicians%20at%20McMul,%20we%20are%20dedicated%20to%20making%20our%20clients’%20lives%20easier.%20For%20example,%20we%20recently%20came%20up%20with%20a%20plan%20to%20reduce%20a%20knowledge%20retention%20kit%20by%2088%20percent%20while%20simultaneously%20creating%20more%20value%20for%20our%20client.%20How%20did%20we%20pull%20this%20rabbit%20out%20of%20our%20hat?%20It%20was%20as%20easy%20as%20TA-DA!%20T%20–%20Tune%20in,%20gather%20information,%20and%20listen%20to%20what’s%20wanted%20During%20a%20three-year%20learning%20solutions%20project,%20our%20client%20wanted%20us%20to%20create%20a%20knowledge%20retention%20kit%20so%20they%20could%20update%20the%20e-learning%20modules%20we%20created%20down%20the%20road.%20Specifically,%20they%20wanted%20individual%20templates%20with%20process%20triggers%20for%20each%20module.%20A%20–%20Ask%20smart%20questions%20to%20uncover%20underlying%20needs%20After%20hearing%20what%20was%20desired,%20we%20felt%20this%20kit%20didn’t%20align%20with%20our%20client’s%20underlying%20needs,%20so%20we%20asked%20questions.%20For%20example:%20Was%20it%20reasonable%20to%20manage%20and%20regularly%20update%20145%20document%20templates?%20D%20–%20Discover%20solutions%20based%20on%20best%20practices%20Our%20team%20combined%20what%20we%20knew%20from%20our%20client%20with%20our%20professional%20experience%20to%20present%20an%20alternative%20solution.%20We%20pitched%20a%20kit%20tailored%20to%20identify%20specific%20module%20updates,%20indicate%20process%20triggers,%20and%20gather%20information%20for%20new%20modules.%20Best%20of%20all,%20it%20required%20only%20seventeen%20documents.%20A%20–%20Align%20on%20expectations%20and%20decisions%20After%20seeing%20an%20example,%20the%20client%20loved%20this%20new%20direction%20because%20it%20would%20drastically%20cut%20down%20on%20their%20work%20while%20offering%20a%20more%20focused%20review%20process.%20When%20you%20hire%20McMul%20to%20create%20a%20solution,%20we%20listen%20to%20what%20you%20want,%20but%20we%20don’t%20stop%20there.%20We%20dig%20deeper%20to%20provide%20a%20solution%20that%20makes%20your%20life%20easier%20because%20it%20truly%20meets%20your%20needs.%20Have%20too%20much%20on%20your%20plate%20or%20a%20tricky%20problem?%20Call%20us%20to%20work%20some%20consultative%20magic!) [Email](mailto:?body=https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/ta-da-a-peak-behind-the-consultative-curtain&subject=TA-DA!%20A%20Peek%20behind%20the%20Consultative%20Curtain) ## About the Author: [Paige Frame and Ted Twinting](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/author/paige-frame-and-ted-twinting) ![Paige Frame and Ted Twinting](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hubfs/BADGE_TWS@3x.png) McKinnon-Mulherin Inc. is a Salt Lake City-based firm that offers technical writing, learning solutions, and sales & business communication. Since 1997, McKinnon-Mulherin has helped organizations improve their productivity and profits with better training and documentation. ## Related Posts ![The Unofficial Guide to Creating a Project Schedule](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The-Unofficial-Guide-to-Creating-a-Project-Schedule.webp?width=767&name=The-Unofficial-Guide-to-Creating-a-Project-Schedule.webp) #### [The Unofficial Guide to Creating a Project Schedule](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/how-to-create-a-project-schedule) October 11th, 2021 ![The Gig Is Up: Why McMul Hires Project-Based Employees](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The-Gig-Is-Up-Why-McMul-Hires-Project-Based-Employees.webp?width=767&name=The-Gig-Is-Up-Why-McMul-Hires-Project-Based-Employees.webp) #### [The Gig Is Up: Why McMul Hires Project-Based Employees](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/what-are-project-based-employees) October 4th, 2021 ![A Work in Progress: How Professional Development Pays Off](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/How%20Professional%20Development%20Pays%20Off.webp?width=767&name=How%20Professional%20Development%20Pays%20Off.webp) #### [A Work in Progress: How Professional Development Pays Off](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/how-professional-development-pays-off) September 20th, 2021 ![Test For Success](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Test-for-Success.webp?width=767&name=Test-for-Success.webp) #### [Test For Success](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/test-for-success) September 11th, 2021 ![Guest Post: How to Stress Less: The Hierarchy of Resilience©](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Guest%20Post%20How%20to%20Stress%20Less%20The%20Hierarchy%20of%20Resilience.webp?width=767&name=Guest%20Post%20How%20to%20Stress%20Less%20The%20Hierarchy%20of%20Resilience.webp) #### [Guest Post: How to Stress Less: The Hierarchy of Resilience©](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/resilience) May 11th, 2021 ![How to Be a Great Vendor](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/How%20to%20Be%20a%20Great%20Vendor%20%281%29.webp?width=767&name=How%20to%20Be%20a%20Great%20Vendor%20%281%29.webp) #### [How to Be a Great Vendor](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/how-to-be-a-great-vendor) February 15th, 2021 ![Three Tips for LinkedIn (You Probably Won’t Find Anywhere Else)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Three%20Tips%20for%20LinkedIn%20%28You%20Probably%20Won%E2%80%99t%20Find%20Anywhere%20Else%29.webp?width=767&name=Three%20Tips%20for%20LinkedIn%20%28You%20Probably%20Won%E2%80%99t%20Find%20Anywhere%20Else%29.webp) #### [Three Tips for LinkedIn (You Probably Won’t Find Anywhere Else)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/three-tips-for-linkedin-you-probably-wont-find-anywhere-else) January 5th, 2021 ![Outsource Responsibly](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Outsource%20Responsibly%20%281%29.webp?width=767&name=Outsource%20Responsibly%20%281%29.webp) #### [Outsource Responsibly](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/outsource-responsibly) November 16th, 2020 ### Categories - [Career (11)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/career) - [Design (3)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/design) - [Desktop publishing (3)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/desktop-publishing) - [eLearning (3)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/elearning) - [Instructional design (8)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/instructional-design) - [Instructor-led training (1)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/instructor-led-training) - [Internal communication (5)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/internal-communication) - [Knowledge management (6)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/knowledge-management) - [Marketing collateral (2)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/marketing-collateral) - [News (1)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/news) - [Presentations (1)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/presentations) - [Press Release (18)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/press-release) - [Project management (1)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/project-management) - [Proofreading (10)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/proofreading) - [Proposal (7)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/proposal) - [Uncategorized (4)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/uncategorized) - [User guides (4)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/user-guides) - [Virtual work (3)](https://www.mckinnon-mulherin.com/blog/tag/virtual-work) - Popular - Recent - Proofreading 202: Using Google Docs July 30th, 2021 - [![Got edits? 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