10 Steps to Get Any Job Done A Practical Approach to Producing High-Quality Deliverables for Your Clients

High-quality deliverables tick 3 boxes:

Timeliness Design Accuracy X X

The key to getting anything done is to get your thinking right

prior to starting to work on a certain job.

And still, you will have to accommodate usual challenges in producing deliverables:

Unclear scope Last minute requests (read: limited time) Changing requirements of the deliverable Limited input from subject matter experts Additional deliverable requests

To get stuff done without going mad, make use of a tried-and-tested approach.

10 steps that work.

#1 Receive Request

Be open and try to show interest when you receive a new request, but be somewhat selective.* Don’t be afraid to mention potential capacity constraints. If these are flagged up front, your client might seek out additional support or consider alternative options. * Don’t jump on every opportunity.

#2 Confirm understanding of request

Ensure that you have a good understanding of what you are required to do. You want to be completely clear about the scope of the work and the intended timeline. If in doubt, it is always better to ask.

#3 Think through the approach

When you are clear about what the desired output should be, spend some time considering different approaches for how to get there. There is rarely one perfect approach. Choose the one that has the least constraints or downsides.

#4 Prepare draft structure

Prepare a draft outline of your approach to present to your client. There are no standards here. But it is usually best to step away from your machine. Use pen and paper, or flipchart instead.

#5 Confirm your approach

Align with your client in terms of the approach that is to be taken. Present your initial thoughts and draft structure, and validate both of them with your client. Be open to criticism, and don’t get too hung up on your initial plan.

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#6 Execute the agreed approach

Once your client agrees with your approach, set out to implement it. However, don’t go into execution mode before you have achieved overall alignment with your client.* * The only exception here may be your client telling you to get started despite some uncertainties or when you are aware of significant risks if the start is delayed.

#7 Provide updates

While your ultimate goal is to produce the deliverable, do not become a hermit. Keep your client in the loop regarding your progress and flag potential, previously unanticipated, issues. Note: It goes without saying that your manager should be involved throughout the process. Thus, when working with external clients, you will want to ensure that your manager has reviewed whatever will be shared with third parties.

At a minimum, provide at least one intermittent update to your client for every deliverable. This update should serve to inform about the current state of the project (roughly 60–70 percent complete) and allow for feed- back from the client.

#8 Incorporate feedback

Ideally, you will have received some constructive feedback. Amend your deliverable accordingly. Do not be selective as to what to include. Your judgment on these points is not required at this time, as your client will look specifically for earlier feedback points upon receiving the final version.

#9 Finalize and review deliverable

Complete any remaining parts of the deliverable, and conduct an in-depth review, including:

− Spelling − Alignment (e.g. text boxes, headlines, and margins) − Consistent use of font style (type and size)

And don’t forget… − Naming conventions − All abbreviations written out at least once − Page numbers as per standards − Correct subtotals and totals in calculations − Printability of the files (if applicable), including correct labeling of margins (date, page number of total number of pages, client logo, etc.)

#10 Deliver the final document

When you deliver the final document, maintain the highest quality standard. Do not take shortcuts here. If you need to resort to external service providers (e.g., printing, binding), then do so. Content is important, but the quality of presentation also ranks very highly.

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CONSULTANT & AUTHOR

MORITZ DRESSEL

Moritz Dressel is the author of The Aspiring Advisor - Strategies and Tools for a Successful Consulting Career.

He can be reached via Twitter @MoritzDressel  or at his blog MoritzDressel.com.

He is also a management consultant specializing in post-merger integration, joint ventures and strategic alliances.