Thread by @RichMillington

1- Let’s review some rules again.

If you're ever looking to work with consultants, this might help:

2- If we have a call to discuss a schedule project, I send a proposal, and then you ghost me. We’re done (both in your current company and anywhere you go next).

Don’t show up at an event or in my inbox 6 months later and say you were ‘too busy’ to even send an email update.

3 - I don't copy and paste a template proposal for each prospect. I join your community, research, benchmark, might scrape data and try to identify precisely what I think you need and then how I can approach it.

This takes a lot of time.

4 - I have no problem with you telling me "no" (although it's nice to have a reason).

Tell me you found someone better, or the cost is too high, or that you disagreed with the approach. But don't just vanish. That makes you both a jerk and a coward.

5 - Fees are sacrosanct. If you don't have a power to agree a fee, then say so early and put me in touch with the person who does.

If you do agree a fee and then you or (more likely) someone from procurement demands I lower it...I'll walk.

6 - If we agree a timeline but your internal vendor/procurement processes take a month or so to get the contract signed, we adjust the back by a month or two.

WE DON'T JUST CRAM IN THE WORK!

(nor do we work without a contract to protect us both).

7 - If you threaten to work with a competitor, I'm probably going to think you're the kind of person I want to work with a competitor.

8 - If you take my proposal and use it to create an RFP without telling me, don't be surprised when I refuse to work with you and advise others to avoid you as well.

9 - For the love of god, check if there are any restrictions on hiring companies outside of the USA. This isn't something that should come up after we've done the project and sent the invoice!

10 - If we've agreed a project that involves travel and you change the dates (or a global pandemic strikes and your company reschedules the dates), you cover the cost of changing my travel plans.

(you know who you are!)

11 - Be completely honest. If you're looking for an outside consultant simply to support what you've already decided to do for internal reasons, then say so.

I won't take on the project, but we can skip the charade.

12 - Also, share your own fears and concerns. We're not therapists, but it definitely helps to get the full picture of any project we're working on. Even the smallest thing can be a big deal.

13 - Be prepared to provide access to the technology. Sometimes I need to take a deep dive to find out what I need to know and why things are / aren't working. I'll sign and jump through whatever hoops are needed, but you need to play ball too.

14 - If you're not sure about the precise deliverables you're getting, ask. Seriously, ask as many questions as you can possibly think to ask. The more clarity you have, the better the project will be. I want your questions!

15 - If you want an hourly rate, you're going to get the kind of person who charges an hourly rate.

16 - If you want something that's outside of the contract, call it what it is 'a favour'.

At least then we can both treat it like one rather than an annoying demand.

17 - A big one. The problem you think you have probably isn't the real problem. i.e. A lack of engagement isn't the problem, the problem is having the wrong goals caused by a failure to properly explain and educate stakeholders about the value of community.

Be prepared for this.

18 - I expect you to be my ally. If your accounting team is holding up payment, I expect you to bat for me. Likewise, I'll be your ally with platform vendors, implementation partners, and introduce you to others you should connect with.

19 - See that project plan I prepared for you?

Look at it often to know when I need you to prepare resources or set aside time to review findings/prepare plans.

p.s. if you're going on vacation, tell me.

20 - I'm going to want to talk to a lot of people. Be prepared to make introductions and explain why someone wants to talk to them.

It's awkward when someone is scheduled to meet with me without knowing why.

21 - Nothing will in the deliverables will be a surprise. I don't conjure a strategy out of magic, it's part of a process where you give input, track progress, and check we're on the right track at all times.

But this means you should own it and sell it internally too!