Most consulting engagements fail not because of expertise gaps — but because the structure breaks down. This playbook gives both the client and the consultant a shared operating model so the engagement delivers what it promised.
Pre-Engagement (Week −1)
- Signed contract and MSA in place before any work begins
- Kickoff agenda distributed 48 hours in advance
- Stakeholder map: who has authority, who needs to be informed
- Access provisioning: systems, data, and contacts the expert needs
- Definition of success: what does a win look like in 90 days?
Kickoff (Day 1)
- Context deep-dive: history, constraints, failed attempts
- Deliverable list finalized with dates and owners
- Communication norms: async vs. sync, response SLAs, escalation path
- First two-week sprint planned with specific outcomes
- Measurement baseline established (current state metrics captured)
Ongoing Cadence
- Weekly: 30-min sync — progress, blockers, next priorities
- Bi-weekly: deliverable review — structured feedback, not passive acceptance
- Monthly: engagement health check — scope, timeline, outcomes on track?
- Continuous: async updates for anything that can't wait for a sync
Deliverable Review Protocol
- Review within 48 hours of receipt — respect the expert's flow
- Written feedback only — verbal-only feedback disappears
- Distinguish between "wrong" and "different than I imagined"
- One revision round is standard — scope additional work separately
Closeout
- Final deliverable acceptance (written sign-off)
- Knowledge transfer session recorded for internal reference
- Lessons learned: what would you do differently?
- Reference and testimonial request (if positive)
- Relationship maintenance: quarterly check-in even after engagement ends