Consultancy 101

I have a really important presentation today in which I am bringing major stakeholders who have diverse opinions into an overview of a proposed UI redesign. I'm anxious because I already know they are opinionated and their opinions do not agree. Hence the meeting.

I'd like to get out of this alive and on good terms with everyone, so I am drawing on my old consultant days and a three step process that has served me well:

1. Share my data with them, including the problems the solution is trying to solve.
2. Give them my expert recommendation (after all, they've paid for it, they're entitled to it).
3. Do what they want. It's their money; it's their project.