ABSTRACT

Information from evaluation is important to identify professional strengths and weaknesses on the part of the consultant and to learn whether the process is at an end and has achieved its goal. The goal is, of course, improving the job performance of the consultee with regard to the client and future clients. Responsible consultants continue to engage in reflective practice (Garcia, this volume, Rosenfield, this volume) aimed at improving their personal development as consultants and take time to collect information and review their professional practices. Simple reflection, with or without the aid of a peer, can be thought of as part of the consultation evaluation process. But reflection alone is not sufficient. There is a danger that reflection in the absence of data from other sources can become self-serving

and self-deluding, and subject to a number of cognitive biases (Sandoval, 1998). Reflection combined with multi-source data can lead to improved service, however.