March 31, 2025



The TL;DR for Busy Executives:

• Consultants work WITH you.
• Employees work FOR you.
• Know the difference. Respect the difference. Or don’t be surprised when the relationship doesn’t last.

There’s a misconception floating around in some corporate corners, and I’m here to lovingly - but firmly - set the record straight:

👉 Consultants are not your employees. We are not on-call. We are not in your org chart. We are not subject to your internal chaos.

When you hire a consultant, you’re not gaining a new report - you’re engaging a strategic partner. One who brings outside perspective, deep expertise, and yes, healthy boundaries. And yet, many still treat consultants like staff who can drop everything at a moment’s notice.

Let’s break that habit.

What You Actually Hired Us For

Let’s not forget: you didn’t hire a consultant because you needed someone to check boxes. You hired us because your internal team didn’t have the bandwidth, the knowledge, or the confidence to handle something critical. You hired us because you trusted we’d get it right the first time, not spend ten internal meetings talking it in circles.

So why, after all that, would you treat us like we’re just another task-rabbit?

The Hallmarks of a Consultant Relationship

Working with a consultant should look like this:

• You agree on a clear scope of work, goals, and timelines.
• The consultant executes, keeps you informed, and delivers.
• You collaborate as partners - not as manager and subordinate.
• Communication is intentional.
• Feedback is structured and solution-focused.

And if the plan needs to change? You talk about it. Like grown-ups. Not through a random ping, not with a surprise calendar invite, and definitely not with mere hours' notice and an “Need this by EOD” subject line.

What Happens When Boundaries Are Crossed

When consultants are treated like employees:

• Timelines get rushed.
• Priorities become unclear.
• Communication breaks down.
• The final deliverable suffers.
• And, worst of all, the trust erodes.

We’re professionals. Many of us run businesses. We have multiple clients, lives, obligations, and systems in place so we can deliver quality at scale. That doesn’t happen when we’re being yanked into reactive fire drills we didn’t start.

If You Want the Best, Be the Best Partner

Here's what makes the difference between a messy engagement and a seamless one:

💡 Stick to the scope. If you want to expand or pivot, that’s fine - just don’t assume it happens without a conversation or deadline change.

💡 Respect time. Our calendars are full for a reason. Last-minute meeting invites won’t yield our best work.

💡 Use the agreed-upon communication channels. If we said email, use email. That’s not a suggestion - it’s a boundary.

💡 Trust the process. You hired us for our methodology, insight, and experience. Let us do what we do best.

💡 Don’t confuse availability with commitment. Just because we’re not in your office doesn’t mean we're not invested in your success.