Being an Internal OD Consultant: A Conversation with Bob Marshak

This is the eleventh video produced in the ‘Just in Case…’ mini-series sponsored by Quality and Equality. In this video we hear from Bob Marshak, one of the leading contemporary thinkers about organizational consulting and change, a Distinguished Scholar in Residence for OD Programs at American University, and is currently Co-Director of the Bushe-Marshak Institute for Dialogic Organization Development. Dr. Marshak draws on his early experiences as an internal OD practitioner and shares helpful insights about how to be an effective and trusted collaborator with senior management. The three questions we ask Dr. Marshak are:
1. What was the context for your experiences as an internal OD practitioner?
2. What insights would you like to share about being an internal OD practitioner?
3. How would you sum up your insights and advice?
Articles and Resources by Bob Marshak
• Marshak, R. J. (2018). Reflections on being an internal practitioner. OD Practitioner, 50(1), 28-34.
• Thompson, J. D. (1967). Organizations in Action. New York: McGraw-Hill.
This 40-minute video provides with clear guidance and behaviors that will help internal OD practitioners be their best selves. Please take the time to sit and listen to the wisdom shared by Bob. Also, please view Bob's previous video where he discusses Anxiety and Change. We hope you will learn something from Bob, and please remember, having a small group of colleagues to discuss what stands out for you after watching the video will be a good way to learn and grow.
Biography
Robert J. Marshak is recognized as one of the leading contemporary thinkers about organizational consulting and change. He began his career as a management analyst in a U.S. government scientific agency and later served in senior executive positions in science policy before leaving to start his own global consulting practice. As a consultant, coach, or educator, he worked globally with senior leaders on strategic change initiatives. He most recently served as a Distinguished Scholar in Residence for OD Programs at American University, Washington, DC, and is currently Co-Director of the Bushe-Marshak Institute for Dialogic Organization Development.
Bob is the author of Covert Processes at Work: Managing the Five Hidden Dimensions of Organizational Change (2006), Organizational Change: Views from the Edge (2009), co-editor with Gervase Bushe of Dialogic Organization Development; The Theory and Practice of Transformational Change (2015), and Dialogic Process Consulting: Generative Meaning-Making in Action (2020), as well as more than 100 articles and book chapters on organizational consulting and change.
His contributions as a consultant, educator, and author about language and change, the hidden dynamics of organizations, and Dialogic Organization Development have been recognized by numerous awards including: The OD Network’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the inaugural Distinguished Educator Award from the Organization Development and Change Division of the Academy of Management. A chapter about him and his work is in the Palgrave Handbook of Organizational Change Thinkers (2017). His BA is from Duke University and MPA and Ph.D. degrees from American University.
Email
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[@dougoinsg]

Thanks Bob for this brilliant sharing, it is so important to focus on internal consultants, and your points are also helpful for those who are external. Thanks Mee Yan for hosting!

[@karinaluna34]

This was great! Thank you for sharing such valuable feedback! 😃

[@dmanthei]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, was insightful!