Manage Expectations!

If you do nothing else in consulting, manage expectations well.

If you’re naturally a people-pleaser (most people in this business are), you’ll want to tell your clients that you can do anything within virtually any time frame. We all want to be heroes to our clients.

The problem with trying to be heroes is that most of us aren’t (at least not all of the time!).  Be honest with your clients and tell them when their requests will be difficult or time-consuming.  We’re not suggesting you should sandbag and double all your estimates, but definitely allow time for mistakes, scheduling difficulties, requirements changes and other inevitable challenges.

Take the words “easy” and “simple” out of your vocabulary when talking to clients.  Never over-promise. Then exceed their expectations.

This isn’t easy, and it takes practice. Speaking of practice, practice on your friends, companions, significant others, spouses, children or anyone else who will hold you accountable.  I promise it will pay off.