Boy, you’ve really packed a lot into this one, Phil.

I, too, have learned the hard way to trust my instincts about ‘bad’ clients. Working as a brand management consultant I’m often called to clean up someone’s reputation after they’ve said or done something wrong, or just plain stupid. For me the worst thing is not only being lied to (or having key info withheld) but having a client who still lies to themselves about their own shortcomings.

I now refuse to work with clients who display a lack of intellectual honesty. The absence of integrity will always come to light, eventually, and it makes the work distasteful. All the great work we are called to do on behalf of clients amounts to little if the supposed leader is blind to his or her own shortcomings and emotional immaturity.

I better stop before I really start ranting!

Nice post.