Desiree E.

The project management triangle dictates that you can only have two of the following: quality, speed, or budget. Understanding this upfront is crucial for setting realistic expectations with your clients. If your client craves a high-quality product delivered at lightning speed, be prepared to discuss the potential impact on their budget. Conversely, if budget is their top priority, they might need to compromise on quality or timeline. Explain the trade-offs involved and help your client prioritize their needs. Maybe they're willing to sacrifice some speed for a more polished product, or maybe they can allocate a larger budget to expedite the timeline. We aren't just consultants, we are strategic partners.

It's crucial to have a candid conversation about financial constraints. It isn't just about numbers. It's about aligning expectations from day one. Understanding the budget upfront allows you to realistically assess what's achievable within those parameters. It also allows you to tailor a project scope that aligns with both the client's vision and financial resources. This transparency helps set realistic expectations, preventing disappointments and ensuring a smoother, more successful project outcome. A well-defined budget isn't a limitation. It allows you to focus on delivering maximum value within the given constraints.

Garbage in = garbage out. The insights you gain from ML algorithms are only as good as the data you feed them. If you start with flawed or incomplete data, you'll have even more flawed results. Make sure your data is clean, accurate, and relevant to the problem you're trying to solve. Take the time to preprocess your data, identify and remove outliers, and ensure consistency. This investment in data quality will pay dividends in more accurate predictions, better decision-making, and, ultimately, greater value for your clients.

Coaches act as a sounding board, offering space to vent, explore different perspectives, and develop effective communication strategies. Sometimes, all you need is someone to listen and understand without judgment. A coach can provide that listening ear, helping you process your emotions and gain clarity. By workshopping challenging interactions with a coach, you can prepare to handle conflicts with greater confidence and composure. You'll be able to rehearse different approaches, refine your communication style, and receive constructive feedback on your delivery. This preparation can make all the difference in navigating difficult conversations and preserving important workplace relationships.

Even the most meticulous plans can encounter roadblocks, which is why flexible planning is crucial. Before kicking off any project, take a proactive approach to risk management. Identify potential issues that could derail your timeline or budget and bake those contingencies into your scope. By anticipating and planning for these risks, you're not just hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. This allows you to remain flexible and adaptable when challenges inevitably arise. A rigid plan is easily broken, but a flexible one can bend and adapt to changing circumstances. By embracing a flexible approach to planning, you can ensure that both client needs and project scope are met, even in the face of unexpected obstacles.

Ask "why" relentlessly. Peel back the layers of their requests and truly understand the underlying needs. Don't take their initial ask at face value. Dig deeper. Not every client has a product owner who fully grasps the factors impacting their bottom line. That's where you, the consultant, come in. You're their partner in uncovering those hard truths. By asking probing questions and challenging assumptions, you can align their needs with a realistic project scope that delivers real results. This approach ensures you're delivering what the client thinks they want and what they need to achieve their business goals. It's about building a partnership based on trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to success.