The Unwritten Rules of Consulting

Every year, talented consultants are passed over for promotions they deserved - not because they underperformed, but because they misunderstood the game they were playing.
Most consultants believe careers follow a simple formula: work hard, earn strong reviews, get promoted. Reality is more complicated - and misunderstanding it costs people years of career progression.
Promotion decisions are not rewards for past performance. They are bets on future trust - made in calibration rooms most consultants never see, under rules nobody writes down.
Written by an active consulting director with 14+ years of experience across 5 countries and 40+ engagements, this book explains how promotion decisions are actually made - and what separates consultants who consistently advance from those who quietly plateau. After watching talented consultants repeatedly miss promotions despite outstanding performance, the author wrote this book to make the unwritten rules visible.

Inside, you'll learn:

• The Spike and Baseline framework that determines who gets noticed and who gets vetoed
• What actually happens inside a calibration meeting - and why many promotion decisions are effectively made before the discussion begins
• Why technical excellence is necessary, but never sufficient, for promotion
• How expectations fundamentally change at every career level, from Analyst to Partner
• Why some of the highest-performing consultants never make partner - and what they missed
• How to know whether the career you're building is actually the one you want

• An Analyst, Associate, Consultant, Manager, or Senior Manager aiming for your next promotion
• Building a long-term career in consulting
• Wondering why equally talented colleagues progress faster
• Looking for practical guidance instead of generic career advice