Most operational problems are not mysterious. They are hiding in plain sight, in the gap between how leadership thinks work moves through the organization and how it actually moves. An operational diagnostic is a structured way to close that gap. This article describes how we approach the process at Bold Citadel Lab, and what organizations can do to prepare for one. Read more →
Organizations frequently hire consultants to help them build a strategy when what they actually need is a conversation they have been avoiding. The strategy work surfaces the disagreement, but if the disagreement is not resolved, the strategy document becomes a record of the compromise rather than a statement of direction. This article explains why alignment has to come first, and what that alignment process actually involves.
The way a consulting engagement is priced is not just an administrative detail. It shapes the incentives on both sides of the relationship, and those incentives affect the quality and character of the work. Most clients do not think about this until they are already in an engagement. This article explains the practical differences between fixed-fee and hourly pricing, and when each makes sense.
The question comes up regularly in our discovery calls: should we hire someone full-time for this, or bring in a consultant? The answer depends less on budget than most people assume. It depends on the nature of the problem, the timeline, and what the organization needs to be able to do after the engagement ends. This article lays out the considerations we walk clients through.
Most executive teams spend the majority of their board preparation time on the slides and very little time on the questions. This is the wrong allocation. A board that is doing its job will spend more time on the questions than on the presentation itself, and the questions that matter most are the ones that are hardest to answer. This article describes how we approach board preparation with clients, and what tends to go wrong when teams prepare on their own.
Strategy, clarity, and results that hold. New essays in your inbox.