Anyone who has ever played 6-a-side football will know there are certain personalities found in most groups. Typically, on the pitch you’ll find there’s…...Read more about The Paradox of the Poisonous Performer
Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? Most organisations across the world are acutely aware of the significant competitive advantage big data and advanced...Read more about How organisations can overcome big data’s two biggest obstacles
We were delighted that our Managing Director, William Johnson was quoted in The Times on Thursday 24th May, commenting on the Management Consultancies Association...Read more about What do award-winning consulting firms do better than the rest?
Technology, automation and increased competition mean the billable hour is on borrowed time. Firms know it and so do their clients. Focus instead has...Read more about Time’s up for the billable hour: Focusing on value is now the only option
Creativity is not enough  More and more, creative agencies and consultancies find themselves targeting the same client accounts. The good news for creative agencies...Read more about How creative agencies can take on consulting firms at their own game – and win
An insight into the key issues facing professional services leaders I am delighted that The Openside Group have been shortlisted for the “Best provision of...Read more about Our Top 10 Most Read Articles of All Time

Points of View

The Partnership Trap

By Harriet Johnson, Openside Tutor and Barrister practising from Doughty Street Chambers The Halo Effect describes the phenomenon experienced by a woman holding her...Read more about The Partnership Trap
In a previous Point of View article, we wrote about the consultant’s Achilles heel – saying “I understand” too quickly. We described how, when...Read more about The ‘Enquiry Strategy Remote Control’ for Consultants
By Debbie Dudley, Openside Tutor Isn’t it disheartening that we still face a situation where women aren’t getting to the top of their respective...Read more about Why are there so few women at the top of Professional Services Firms?
Part 2 of our Points of View series “Mission Impossible? Managing Performance within the Partner Group” giving our perspectives on the The ‘Partner Contribution and Reward...Read more about Underperformance all round? The Performance Management Conversation in Partner Groups
Part 1 of our Special Report “Mission Impossible? Managing Performance within the Partner Group” giving our perspectives on the The ‘Partner Contribution and Reward Survey 2017’...Read more about Is the definition of Partner “No more development required”?
Read our full Points of View overview.

The Openside Group’s Points of View is an extensive library of thought-leadership built over more than a decade, written specifically for professionals and leaders working in consulting, law, accounting, financial services and other advisory sectors.

The articles are deliberately challenging and thought-provoking, bridging the gap between academic research and real-world practice. Every piece is grounded in Openside’s deep experience of working with professional services firms across the globe and comes with practical recommendations that readers can act on.

The library spans a broad range of topics that matter most to people building careers and leading teams in professional services. On the technical side, readers will find rich content on analytical problem-solving, structured thinking, hypothesis-driven approaches, and critical thinking – the core intellectual skills that distinguish great consultants. Communication and storytelling feature prominently too, with articles exploring how to present with impact, craft compelling narratives and avoid the common trap of turning insight into a data dump.

Business development and client relationships are another major thread, covering everything from winning proposals and navigating procurement to building trusted advisor relationships and differentiating your firm in a crowded market.

Leadership runs throughout the archive – from practical tips for new managers stepping into their first leadership role, to the complex dynamics of Partner performance, development and succession. Alongside this sits a growing body of content on wellbeing, resilience and workplace culture, including a widely read special report on the “always-on” culture that dominates professional services.

More recently, Openside has turned its attention to the future of the profession – examining how AI is reshaping consulting, what the rise of Gen Z means for firms, and how skills-based development is changing the talent landscape.

Taken together, the Points of View represent one of the most comprehensive independent perspectives on professional development and performance in professional services available today.