December 1996, Vol 21, No 3

Abstract: Public process counseling differs from private transaction counseling in that it involves politics, multiple constituencies and conflicting objectives. One cannot always take the bottom line, hard-nosed solution. Process counseling focuses on the process of decision making or administration, and it requires trust and consensus building. It is far more complex than transactional counseling, and as with any type of business practice, the only way to master it is by doing and learning from your successes and failures.