Keeping Your Balance in Consulting Relationships

Intended audience: Internal consultants, project managers, marketing managers and others who must influence others without line authority

Use an assessment tool to evaluate personal consulting skills
Walk out with a list of interview questions for the exploratory meeting that guarantee getting the partnership off on the right foot
Define concrete metrics so business partners are using the same ruler to measure success
Practice using techniques that will help avoid hidden landmines and uncover unspoken needs
Set the partnership up on the front end to keep it collaborative on the back end
Identify techniques that help keep control via informal leadership
Learn how to defend against scope creep
Frame alternate solutions to make “no” sound like “yes”
Leverage the “royalty roster” to get greater cooperation from the team

Cooperation vs. Conflict Participant's Guide

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