Navigation Tools

VIA Consulting LLC balances thinking with doing through facilitation and coaching. Dr. Pell and associates choose tools and processes that are evidence-based and action-oriented. The following navigation tools are organized in three major phases:

Discovery and Pathfinding
Mapping and Aligning
Navigating the Map

You may choose among and between them to match your journey with our guides.

Phase One: Discovery and Pathfinding

• Visioning: Gathering numbers and stories VIA interviews, surveys, focus groups and document review, collecting the quantitative and qualitative, so that you can visualize and frame where you want to be at the end of this journey
• Assessing Relationships: Surveying VIA assessment tools, including the Strength Deployment Inventory, to understand your individual strengths and how they inform the way you interact with others, in work groups and boards. Understanding and defusing conflict in relationships by applying tools and processes promoted by the Maryland Community Mediation Model
• Auditing the Organization: Plotting your work processes to understand flow, efficiencies, and outputs. Applying tools from the Small Business Administration, Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations (MANO) Standards of Excellence, and community development, such as the Logic Model
• Coaching: Using the Results Coaching Systems model, promoting insights to analyze and develop optimal work and life performance.

Phase Two: Mapping and Aligning

• Forming Strategies: Engaging groups in dynamic processes such as Appreciative Inquiry, Strengths- Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT), and Scenario Testing, to generate and prioritize SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-limited) strategies
• Facilitating:Conceptualizing and conducting retreats, focus groups, forums, town meetings, and events where ideas are generated, visions are framed, and goals are plotted
• Writing: Synthesizing data, stories, and ideas into summaries, meeting notes and grants

Phase Three: Navigating the Map

• Developing Leaders: Teaching and training VIA customized curricula and interactive workshops. Coaching and modeling.
• Organizing: Generating and plotting processes, schedules, data and workplace based on principles espoused by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO)
• Evaluating:Measuring and documenting success VIA the United Way Logic Model and elements of Mark Friedman’s Results Based Accountability