What do you do if your consulting project ends in failure?

Reflecting on a failure is crucial, especially when clear milestones to assess project progress weren't set. The absence of these critical reference points often prevents recognizing deviations from the established path, making timely adjustments difficult. This type of critical reflection allows us to better understand project dynamics and contributes to the development of more resilient and proactive consulting practices. Integrating regular assessments and establishing clear milestones in future projects can help maintain a firmer control over the project's direction and increase the chances of success or minimize the impact of "failure".

- Dar la cara con humildad y honestidad reconociendo el fracaso. - Analizar cuales fueron las causas, revisar la planificación, objetivos, recursos asignados, controles, comunicación, expectativas, gestión, tiempo, etc. - Acciones correctivas de inmediato. - Volver a construir las confianzas con el cliente interno y externo. - Educación continua, desaprender y volver a aprender.

Even failure is an important component of success. Success, as Winston Churchill once said, is the ability to go from one failure to another without losing enthusiasm. From failures, we learn, and understand how to improve.

Look at what went wrong in the project and try to assess the root causes. Involving the project team in that process is an important aspect. Ensure that there is an open discussion with the team, and note the points that come out of the discussion to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

What you define as a failure for one project or client, could well be an important learning that could help your next project or client (or even the same client next time). So make sure you build in a feedback mechanism into all your consulting workflow. Be open with your clients about what went wrong. Discuss it. Do not shy away from talking about it. Offer discounts or offer more time to try and help them overcome any set back. Involve other consultants or partners who may be able to get things back on track for the client. But all or any of the next steps, starts with you asking for feedback. Make sure you do that on a regular basis.

After reflecting on a failed project, seek feedback from your team, clients, and stakeholders. Their insights can offer clarity and suggestions for improvement. Actively seeking feedback demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth, fostering stronger relationships through honest communication.

Objectivity in analysis (both before and after the project) is essential for making informed decisions and evaluating strategies. As a legal advisor, I've found that analyzing concrete data without bias allows me to provide solid and viable recommendations. This involves gathering data from multiple sources, critically evaluating them (methodically), and being willing to adjust strategies based on the evidence. Promoting this culture within teams fosters innovation and strengthens professional credibility, demonstrating a consistent ability to perform objective, evidence-based evaluations to colleagues and clients.

Como quiero emprender como consultora si fracaso esto es lo que haría. En primer lugar, reconocer que el proyecto ha fracasado. Segundo, recopilar comentarios, opiniones de clientes y no clientes y sobre todo analizar porque algunos prospectos rechazaron mi propuesta, pero escogieron a la competencia. Tercero, seguir formándome en aquellas áreas que estimes que necesitas. Por último, no rendirme y volver a empezar.

Never allow your client or your associates to set the bar too high or without considering what’s possible. There are many ways to achieve value if you closely collaborate with clients and make it a team effort. There’s always value in failure if it’s achieved by doing everything right or what was agreed to as a correct path only to learn that there’s a better way early on. Less is always more when deviating sooner than later from an improper path. Best wishes. DK