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Flawless Consulting: How to Get Your Expertise Used



Flawless Consulting by Peter BlockFlawless Consulting by Peter Block is one of the better how-to books on consulting I've read. Following my theme of not looking for a job, maybe what I'm really doing is looking for many jobs. I spent a couple of years in the late 1990s working for a small consulting company, so I know how hard it is to do the job right and get paid. There are all sorts of trade-offs between:

  • telling the client what they want to hear so they'll pay you and telling them what they need to hear so you can do your job
  • getting the client to take responsibility for the project and losing control
  • providing a plan that looks good and one that actually works for the long term.

Block provides a well-structured book, taking you through the culture and mindset of consulting. He uses a scenario approach to make his points, and provides a variety of check-off lists and tools. He spends a good number of pages on contracting (very important) and on the 50/50 split in client/consultant responsibility that is required for success. Along the way are lots of good tips for how to handle project meetings, work corporate politics, etc.

It's a bit expensive, at $42, but I recommend it for anyone thinking seriously about doing independent consultant work.