Summary
Expect to learn that the key to effectively managing scope changes, is constant communication throughout the process, raising any deviations from the initial plan early on, waiting for the moment when the client realizes the value being delivered, and proposing scope adjustments at that opportune time, while avoiding post-project change discussions.
3 Key Takeaways from this Video
- Communication is essential: Maintaining open and consistent communication throughout the project is crucial when dealing with scope changes. Inform the client early on if any deviations or adjustments are noticed.
- Timing is important: Look for a moment when the client recognizes the value being delivered and feels satisfied with the work. This is an opportune time to propose scope adjustments and discuss any necessary changes in pricing.
- Avoid post-project scope changes: It is generally best to address and discuss scope changes before the project is completed. Trying to address scope changes after the project is finished can lead to complications and should be avoided if possible.
Transcript
0:05 Change the scope. That is a very difficult thing to master as any provider. And so because there's so many nuances to what you do, the boundaries that you set and scope are never quite as black and white as you might think.
0:28 So how do you deal with the change of scope? When does that come up? So I think the most important thing is communication.
0:35 Communication throughout. Communicate when you're on scope. Communicate when you're slightly getting off scope. What I like to do is I like to take it away from the actual contract and talk about talking about scope and price.
0:52 I like to go to something that's, you know, by the way, I've just noticed that we're, you know, that this is working out a little differently than we all imagined.
1:01 So it's a collective, we all imagined. It's not about what I thought or you thought, but it's something like it's different than we thought.
1:09 And and I might even say we may need to come back to different pricing, but I'm okay right now, I just want to let you know early on that I'm starting to notice it.
1:19 You can't let that slip as soon as you really feel like you're getting out of scope. You need to communicate and you need to talk about it, but you don't need to necessarily do anything other than bring it to light.
1:31 And if you do that, then I think what you're always waiting for is that moment and experience will tell you when that moment is of when the value is most apparent to the client.
1:43 They know that you're delivering, they know your perhaps doing something some other law firm wouldn't do something they hadn't expected.
1:50 And at that moment is a really good time to say I'd like to talk to you about what I raised earlier and how the scope of what we are doing has changed.
2:01 And this is what I'm thinking. I'd like to propose this. And I can I almost can't think of an example of where a client said, no, that's not okay.
2:11 They've already built the trust. You've been vulnerable all the way along. You've done work at the outset in getting to pricing that could have been for free.
2:20 And so when it's never as tough as you think, but look for that one moment when they really feel the value.
2:30 Is the opportunity to do change a scope. And sometimes that's quite late. But if you've raised it all along, then it's not a surprise.
2:38 There's really one time when you don't want to have the change of scope conversation. And that is after you finish the project.