It's important to recognize that trust and rapport in a consulting relationship, like any other type of relations, takes time to develop. Consider that most relationships develop in the following way.

Best Behavior

Both parties try to show only their good sides and good intentions as they try to form the initial relationship. While expectations are shared, they tend to focus on best-case scenarios and everything working out perfectly.

First Bump in the Road

Inevitably, one party or the other will violate these initial expectations. It's impossible for everything to be perfect in every situation, all the time. Sometimes the relationship ends at this point, but more often, things are smoothed over.

Waiting Underground

The problem with smoothing things over time after time leads to one or both parties storing up mistrust and resentment. This can lead to various forms of behavior that are confusing because they are not directly related to the source of tension.

Productive Problem Solving

At this point, both parties sit down, re-examine expectations, and really try to resolve their issues. If fact, they establish processes for resolving conflicts they can expect down the road.

Many people think that applying to job postings on sites like Monster and HotJobs is a waste of time. I think this idea comes from having applied to many jobs and never getting an interview for any of them. Back when I used to use job boards, I had similar experiences. Even when a recruiter contacted me, it was never for the job I had applied for.

A reader of a now-defunct message board once wrote...

I'm a first time contractor and have been at it for two years now, working for a friend's services company. There are four partners with the other four of us 1099 contractors. Within the last year they have been asking me to work from the office more which is fine, but there are times when there is nothing for me to bill my time towards so I spending 8 hrs at my desk but I'm only able to bill 4 of it to a client which is unsettling. Adding to my frustration is that I have not received a raise either. Should I be expecting one since I'm 1099?

As a consultant, you need to spend a good percentage of your time looking for work. Even if you have a gig, you still need to be prepared at any time to get another one since contracts can sometimes end without much notice.

When putting together an approach for addressing a client's needs for your consulting services or when comparing the pros and cons of different solutions, there are several questions that you should consider when it comes to design feasibility. The following are an example of the minimum questions you need to pose to ensure a successful solution design.