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Is your experience that this is universal, though? I could easily envision organizations (based on my own experience, albeit not as a consultant in that sense)

Is your experience that this is universal, though? I could easily envision organizations (based on my own experience, albeit not as a consultant in that sense) that would take your representation at face value - if things go south and you take the blame, they will blacklist and badmouth you, and vice versa they will love you if you can somehow hoard all the credit for a success. Perhaps it rarely plays out that way, but I’m skeptical that it never happens.

andi999 5y ago
Exactly what I was thinking. Even worse, doesnt taking the blame mean they can ask/sue for damages? Not sure why this is controversial, but I saw agency funded projects if they fail the companies have to repay the funding. Employees are usually protected but if a consultant was on board who would take the responsibility for that failure, I would expect at least some of the companies with legal departments to try to get the money from that consultant.
jonahbenton 5y ago
In my experience there is very little actual blacklisting/badmouthing in this way. Such behavior reflects poorly only on the badmouther. In consulting there are always functional and non-functional criteria for a relationship- on both sides. Sometimes/often invented after the fact, after parties have gotten to know one another. Engagements will be described to others against that criteria. The listener can glean and infer what they are able to. And sometimes for the careful listener, there will be some barely detectable tepidity in an endorsement.
jrumbut 5y ago
This is something like an added benefit. If an organization has a good culture they'll like what you're doing and keep you working for then, if not then they'll get rid of you and free up your time something better. As far as hoarding credit for a success, certainly a lot of people make that work for them but I'd like to think the other way is more sustainable. Maybe I'm fooling myself though?

andi999 5y ago

Exactly what I was thinking. Even worse, doesnt taking the blame mean they can ask/sue for damages? Not sure why this is controversial, but I saw agency funded projects if they fail the companies have to repay the funding. Employees are usually protected but if a consultant was on board who would take the responsibility for that failure, I would expect at least some of the companies with legal departments to try to get the money from that consultant.

jonahbenton 5y ago

In my experience there is very little actual blacklisting/badmouthing in this way. Such behavior reflects poorly only on the badmouther. In consulting there are always functional and non-functional criteria for a relationship- on both sides. Sometimes/often invented after the fact, after parties have gotten to know one another. Engagements will be described to others against that criteria. The listener can glean and infer what they are able to. And sometimes for the careful listener, there will be some barely detectable tepidity in an endorsement.

jrumbut 5y ago

This is something like an added benefit. If an organization has a good culture they'll like what you're doing and keep you working for then, if not then they'll get rid of you and free up your time something better. As far as hoarding credit for a success, certainly a lot of people make that work for them but I'd like to think the other way is more sustainable. Maybe I'm fooling myself though?