The Fine Art of “Clienting”

There are about a zillion books on consulting, and none that I could find on “clienting.” It goes without saying that the quality and quantity of attention that a consultant receives from you, the “client” manager, will likely make or break the success of the relationship, as well as the business outcomes of the engagement.

So here is my small contribution to the narrow field of clienting: a few basic words of advice to solidify and strengthen the relationship between you and the consultant you have hired.

Be open. As a manager, you must be frank and forthcoming about the problems that face your organization. Tell your consultant the entire story: the good, the bad, and the ugly. This is no time to be shy, hold back, ...

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