What to Expect from a First Conversation with a Strategy Consultant

A lot of founders and executives put off reaching out to a consultant because they are not sure what to say or what the conversation will involve. This article describes what a first conversation at Clever Moontrail actually looks like, so that uncertainty is not the reason you do not make the call.

What the conversation is for

The first conversation is diagnostic, not sales. The goal is to understand what you are working on well enough to say whether this practice is a good fit for it. Sometimes it is not, and saying so early is more useful than starting an engagement that is wrong for the situation.

The conversation is also for you. Most people who reach out have been thinking about a problem for a while and have not had a structured conversation about it. Describing the problem out loud to someone who asks specific questions often clarifies it, regardless of what happens next.

What to prepare

You do not need a brief or a deck. The most useful preparation is a clear answer to two questions: what is the problem, and why does it matter now? The second question is important. If the problem has existed for two years and nothing has changed, that is relevant context. If something changed recently that made it urgent, that is also relevant.

If you have existing documents. A strategy deck, an org chart, a board presentation. Those can be useful background, but they are not required for the first conversation.

What happens after

If the fit seems right, the next step is a short written proposal describing the engagement format, the scope, and the timeline. There is no obligation at the first conversation stage. If the fit does not seem right, Colin will say so and, where possible, suggest what kind of help would be more appropriate.

The proposal, if it comes, is specific to the situation. It is not a template with a name swapped in.

If you have a question you keep circling back to, the contact page is the right place to start. A short description of the situation is enough to go on.