Manager's right to fail

A manager’s right to fail is especially hard for internal consultants to accept. If we are in an organization we care about, and we see a division going down the drain, we feel obligated to the organization and ourselves to try and turn that situation around. The wish is a fine one, for it gives meaning to our work. The mistake consultants can make is to take on the rehabilitation of that division as a personal objective.

The manager of that division is responsible for its rehabilitation, not the consultant. Taking over the manager’s rights, including the right to fail, leads to consulting errors. It can also lead to frustration and despair, for you may be taking on a responsibility as a consultant is to present information as simply and directly and assertively as possible. And to complete the tasks of each phase of the consultation. That’s all there is to do. And it’s within each of us to do that perfectly. —p51, Flawless consulting