Beware the Scope Creep

Imagine an Apple store customer arguing with the clerk that, because they just spent $600 on a new iPhone, it would only be fair to throw in a set of Airpods for free. “After all, $600 is a lot of money for a phone - and it will be a lot easier to use the phone if I have the Airpods, too.” Imagine a restaurant owner who gives all their customers extra servings whenever they love their meals just to make absolutely certain that the customer leaves happy.

While these scenarios are hard to fathom and may even seem a little silly, these are examples of scope creep and scope creep happens all the time in professional service. So what exactly is scope creep? It is when you provide services to your client that are outside those you initially agreed upon. For example, if you agreed to perform basic bookkeeping services only, but your client asks you to analyze the effects of selling one of their businesses. Or if you provide “CFO level service,” but your client asks you to act as their bookkeeper - requiring you to spend hours doing manual input. 

It’s easy to think of scope creeps as actual … well ... creeps. Because they are. They are creeps that literally steal your precious time, energy, talent, and treasure. But unlike a lot of creeps in our lives, framed differently, scope creeps don’t need to be creepy. They can actually provide opportunities to figure out how you can best serve your client and be compensated for it. By understanding that your time is a precious commodity and that you bring real value to your clients, you can set appropriate boundaries and feel confident in adjusting your client engagement when their needs change.

Want to learn more about how to combat scope creep and other problems? Breakaway advisors have access to an ever-growing library of videos, article, support groups, and more to help them grow and serve their clients. Find more information here.