Practice

6 min read

How to brief a consultant, and how to end it well

A good brief saves weeks. A good ending saves the relationship. What we wish every client knew before the first call.

Nora Aldermere

Founding partner

Written by

Nora Aldermere

Founding partner

We have been on both sides of this table. The best engagements began with a short, honest brief.

Brief on the problem, not the solution

Tell us what hurts and how you know. Leave the fix open for a week.

Agree how it ends

Set the date, the deliverable and the handover before you start. Engagements that drift are engagements no one planned to finish.

Say so early if it is not working

A short conversation in week three is worth more than a long one in week ten. We would rather hear it.

The Aldermere Letter

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The Aldermere Letter

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© 2026 Aldermere Advisory Ltd, Bristol

© 2026 Aldermere Advisory Ltd, Bristol

Independent since 2011 · Fixed fees · No lock-in

Independent since 2011 · Fixed fees · No lock-in

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