The Engagement Meeting: Take a Step Back and See The Big Picture

Most consultants say they’re “too busy doing the work” — as if that’s a badge of honor. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: you never stop to ask “are we still doing the right work?” In this episode, John and Mark break down the concept of the engagement meeting; a deliberate, structured conversation designed not to move a project forward, but to make sure everyone is aligned with its direction. It’s where you zoom out, recalibrate priorities, and turn reactive “fire drills” into proactive strategy. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why most client relationships fall apart between meetings, not during them How to use engagement meetings to surface red flags before they become infernos The subtle difference between being a vendor who delivers and a partner who steers How this simple practice can increase client retention, expand accounts, and raise your lifetime value per client If you’ve ever felt like a client relationship is fine but something’s off, this episode will show you how to fix it before your client ghosts you for the next shiny firm. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Welcome 01:46 Listener Feedback Survey 02:24 Engagement Meeting 04:13 Being Proactive Instead Of Reactive 08:01 Meeting Regularity 09:19 Have A General Set Agenda 11:30 Balancing The Scorecard 12:55 Ideal Meeting Length 15:12 Practical Tips 20:03 Next Steps? 21:36 When To Introduce The Concept 23:36 How Many Participants? 24:20 Conclusion Share your feedback in our listener survey : https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8V9T6Z7