ARTICLE: When to Say No to a Project

Learning to say “no” is one of the most strategic capabilities a consulting firm can develop. This article offers a four-part framework to evaluate project opportunities based on risk, client quality, internal capacity, and likelihood of success, without forms or scoring.

This article explores the critical skill of saying “no” to consulting projects—a challenge many firms face as they mature. While instinct and experience often guide senior leaders, newer consultants benefit from a more structured approach. The article presents a four-part evaluation framework: two “go” considerations (risk assessment and client quality) and two “get” considerations (internal capacity and probability of winning).

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