The Golden Rule of Consulting

Never attempt to solve a problem your client is unaware of or doesn’t want to admit to having.

Trying to “educate” the client by making him aware of larger issues is a very risky business for a consultant. It requires a lot of unpaid time and energy; in the worst case, it can even backfire. I still have the scars of a few clients who were really upset with me for pointing out the strategic, deep issues and not buying their tactical list of symptoms.