Made for Consultants
Send a Firm but Useful Out-of-Scope Reply
12 min
Beginner
Boundaries
Communicate Better
Difficult Conversation
Create a ready-to-send reply that separates a new client request from the agreed scope and offers a clear way forward.
Create a free account to save your progress and use this Playbook.
Use this when
Use this as soon as a client asks for work, analysis, revisions, or deliverables that aren't clearly covered by the current agreement.
You'll need
- Client request
- Agreed scope
- Effect on current work
- Options to offer
- Delivery format
- Relationship tone
You'll get
- One ready-to-send response identifying the extra request, stating the scope boundary, offering clear options, and requiring approval before additional work starts
- Every price, date, and scope reference checked against your records.
By the end of this playbook
You will have:
- One ready-to-send response identifying the extra request, stating the scope boundary, offering clear options, and requiring approval before additional work starts
- Every price, date, and scope reference checked against your records.
Sample
This is sample data, not your prompt. Pro unlocks this higher-stakes Playbook. On Free Playbooks you can still copy the assembled prompt into any AI.
Sample input
Client request: The client asked me to interview five customers and add customer research to the strategy report. Agreed scope: Stakeholder interviews, a market review based on existing research, and one strategy report. Customer interviews aren't included. Effect: Two additional weeks plus recruiting, interviews, analysis, and a new report section. Options: A change order, a second phase, or replacing the planned competitor interviews with customer interviews. Format: Email Tone: Warm and collaborative
Sample assembled prompt
Subject: Options for adding customer interviews... Adding five customer interviews and a... I can support the request in... Prepare a change order covering recruitment,... 2. Schedule the customer research as... 3. Replace the planned competitor interviews... The first two options would affect... Let me know which path you'd...