I’m asked by my boss to drive some multiyear internal transformation initiative instead of client work. Should I do it? Is it career seppuku?

In consulting, more of the latter. At least at my mid size firm. Expect a comp adjustment.

I have been doing this part time for the past few years out of personal interest. The internal contribution is definitely not valued in the same way as client margin dollars, even though the impact is much larger.

You should still do it if this is the right thing for you and the firm.
My suggestion is to agree on
- success criteria upfront and find ways to quantify impact. And then define how it translates to in client dollar equivalent for comp purposes.
- level of resourcing, ability to hire, funding, etc. It is easier to cut internal positions and hr openings. Particularly with leadership changes. - your off ramp or re-entry to consulting when you want it. Making sure you will get a territory equivalent to the one you left

Get this in writing and anticipate leadership changes, if you can. Politics will play a much bigger part in your new role.

I hope this helps! Your mileage may vary. Good luck in your endeavors.

If you have a healthy book of business, keep doing it. In the current economic climate, staying close to clients and revenues is prudent.

If your commercial performance if not thriving and this internal initiative offer is a way to give you a soft landing, grab it.

Do you work with your wife?? Because “partners” have no bosses🙌. At least that what they keep telling me😉

In this environment, that’s a nope for me.

That said, i would seek advice from someone senior in your firm who’s familiar with the inner workings to make sure you’re considering everything we don’t know.

If you are later in your career, I have seen this as a step to C-Suite. Your multi year thing could drive 3 percent margin improvement for the whole firm. That might be much larger than your book of business.

Given the industry outlook and the continued uncertainty in the economy , you should stay in the market if you have any decent book of business. These are the times that those who can sell and have relationships should batten down the hatches and will be rewarded, those who can’t will migrate to internal roles and be purged.

Immediately, no. First jobs to be cut at the whiff of a downturn.

It means they value you as a delivery person but not as a rainmaker. If you are later in your career I’ve seen this can actually bring job security in a downturn.

1) I’m making an assumption that you have a book, but it is not huge, because I can’t imagine a firm, pulling a rainmaker out of the market for something internal.

2) Is the initiative truly strategic and will position you to return to the market with a stronger skill set that is commercially differentiated from where you are today? If so, take it with clear success criteria defined at specific milestones so you can measure value to the firm in real dollar terms.

3) if the initiative is multi year and will make changes to the business, but is not going to drive commercial value to you when it is done, and assuming number one above, then take the role to buy yourself time, but start to look for exits to other places.

4) if number one is a false assumption and you have an incredible book that continues to grow and be profitable, then no way in hell should you take this role.