Openside in conversation with.. Harriet Johnson, Barrister and Openside programme leader joins us to discuss current topics. In this podcast, Harriet Johnson explores presentation...Read more about Women in law and presenting a case
Welcome to a special edition of The Pelorus, focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in learning and development and leadership development. AI predictions from Ian...Read more about The Pelorus – July 2023
In 2008 eZine wrote an article for training managers and/or company stakeholders who were looking for ways to measure the effectiveness of their programmes,...Read more about Top 10 learning metrics, what’s changed?
Effective questioning and active listening go beyond mere empathy or being agreeable, although empathy is vital in all client conversations. The aim is to...Read more about The ‘Enquiry Strategy Remote Control’ for Consultants
By making a proposal unique – not just recycled – you uphold and strengthen your reputation with the client and what’s more, you prove...Read more about Proposals: How to make them a point of difference, not a point of reference 2023
Working with leadership teams in recent weeks, what has become clear is that most feel that they are driven by time. They feel stressed...Read more about The Tyranny of Time – Priorities
Following on from Debbie Dudley’s previous 2017 point of view looking at ‘Why are there so few women at the top of Professional Services...Read more about Why are there so few women at the top of Professional Service Firms?
All law firms need strong business development strategies to enable them grow, retain clients and increase revenue. Successful law firms have a strong handle...Read more about Should early career lawyers be trained in Business Development?
This sounds obvious, right? Except that it is becoming a trend and it is notable that some organisations are using wellness programmes to try...Read more about Wellness programmes won’t have the desired impact if the real problem is that your headcount is too low 
The role of the internal advisor has never been an easy one. Problems arise from the role being too loosely defined, having to play...Read more about Internal advisors: What do your stakeholders expect from you? 
Exploring three critical areas of leadership behaviour successful Partners exhibit As the Summer draws to a close and firms begin their big push towards the end of the year, I have been reflecting on...Read more about Learning to catch a ball and learning leadership
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.