---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Review agendas with your client, before…"
description: "\"“Review agendas with your client, before meetings, before phone calls, before discussions. Clients should know that they can expect you to always solic..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6a/david-h-maister-19663_phone-calls_review-agendas-with-your-client-before-m_440761.jpg"
---

#  Review agendas with your client, before meetings, before…

![“Review agendas with your client, before meetings, before phone calls, before discussions. Clients should know that they can expect you to always solicit their views on how time will be spent. 6.” quote by David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6a/david-h-maister-19663_phone-calls_review-agendas-with-your-client-before-m_440761.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6a/david-h-maister-19663_phone-calls_review-agendas-with-your-client-before-m_440761.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6a/david-h-maister-19663_phone-calls_review-agendas-with-your-client-before-m_440761.jpg)

> ““Review agendas with your client, before meetings, before phone calls, before discussions. Clients should know that they can expect you to always solicit their views on how time will be spent. 6.””

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Consultants should proactively discuss agenda and time use with clients to build trust and ensure alignment.

**In simple terms:** Set agenda with clients early.

Key Takeaway

Always involve clients in planning.

Themes

consulting communication trust client management

Mood

professional practical

Type

advisory service

When to use this quote

- project kickoff
- regular check‑ins
- service reviews
- contract negotiations

Key Concepts

agenda setting time management client expectations

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance guidance with client autonomy?
- What signals show a client needs more agenda control?

A Different Perspective

Clients may resist perceived micromanagement, requiring flexibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Agendas Client](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agendas-client-3865943/) [Client Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/client-meetings-3865939/) [Clients Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clients-know-3865945/) [Discussions Clients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussions-clients-3865941/) [Phone calls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-calls/) [Review Agendas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/review-agendas-3865937/)

## Related quotes

> [Over the years, I paid careful attention in client meetings and jotted down things that quite didn't make sense. And I had the courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-engelbert/over-the-years-i-paid-careful-attention-in-client-meetings-and-jotted/)

[Cathy Engelbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-engelbert/)

> [All our clients know that we're there, we're steady, we do a good job, we earn a fair return for ourselves, which I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/all-our-clients-know-that-we-re-there-we-re-steady-we-do-a-good-job/)

[Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/)

> [“What did it take to claim a person, really? One perfect night? A few weeks of phone calls, hundreds of texts, all of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/what-did-it-take-to-claim-a-person-really-one-perfect-night-a-few/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Relationships this days are harder now because conversations become texting, arguments become phone calls and feelings becomes status updates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/insane-insomniac/relationships-this-days-are-harder-now-because-conversations-become/)

[Insane & Insomniac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/insane-insomniac/)

> [“So if you’re dealing with a nonperforming employee, particularly on issues related to work ethic, I suggest that you begin by asking three questions:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-morley/so-if-you-re-dealing-with-a-nonperforming-employee-particularly-on/)

[Patrick Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-morley/)

> [For days after death hair and fingernails continue to grow, but phone calls taper off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/for-days-after-death-hair-and-fingernails-continue-to-grow-but-phone/)

[Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/)

> [We hope that the elected officials will respond positively to a ground swell of letters, phone calls, e-mails and visits from parents. The law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-hope-that-the-elected-officials-will-respond-positively-to-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“And the sex,” I said. “It will be frequent. Possibly violent. You’ll be screaming. Neighbors will make phone calls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/and-the-sex-i-said-it-will-be-frequent-possibly-violent-you-ll-be/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [“Ironically, you’ll probably get far more done when only half of your workday overlaps with the rest of your team. Instead of spending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fried/ironically-you-ll-probably-get-far-more-done-when-only-half-of-your/)

[Jason Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fried/)

> [It's hard to understand the athlete's lifestyle. You literally eat, sleep, train. You go to training camps in the winter where there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oksana-masters/it-s-hard-to-understand-the-athlete-s-lifestyle-you-literally-eat/)

[Oksana Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oksana-masters/)

> [“It is crucial to establish early in treatment that the victim has actually conveyed, in unambiguous terms, that they do not want the stalker’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-boon/it-is-crucial-to-establish-early-in-treatment-that-the-victim-has/)

[Julian Boon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-boon/)

> [“You wonder why I don’t answer your 3 a.m. phone calls. When you say “I miss you”, I begin to undress myself out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sierra-demulder/you-wonder-why-i-don-t-answer-your-3-a-m-phone-calls-when-you-say-i/)

[Sierra Demulder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sierra-demulder/)

> [To tell you the truth I am hard put to think of anyone who's career was affected significantly by making all those phone calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabney-coleman/to-tell-you-the-truth-i-am-hard-put-to-think-of-anyone-who-s-career/)

[Dabney Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabney-coleman/)

> [I'm signed to a U.S. label, and I didn't enjoy the 3 A.M. phone calls. I'm not a great sleeper, so I didn't enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle/i-m-signed-to-a-u-s-label-and-i-didn-t-enjoy-the-3-a-m-phone-calls-i/)

[Estelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle/)

> [I get very anti-social, depressed and irritable with people. I don't have time for them. I can't make phone calls and stuff. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/i-get-very-anti-social-depressed-and-irritable-with-people-i-don-t/)

[Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/)

## More by David H. Maister

> [“Advisors who rate the highest on reliability will not just deliver their work on time and on spec. Nor will they simply be consistent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/advisors-who-rate-the-highest-on-reliability-will-not-just-deliver/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“Make sure you’ve done absolutely all your homework on the client company, the client marketplace, and the client individual, and that it’s absolutely up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/make-sure-you-ve-done-absolutely-all-your-homework-on-the-client/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“Speak with expression, not monotonically. Use body language, eye contact, and vocal range. Show the client you have energy around the subject at hand. 5.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/speak-with-expression-not-monotonically-use-body-language-eye-contact/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“A good rule to remember is that, in relationships, there are no win-lose or lose-win combinations: There are only win-wins and lose-loses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/a-good-rule-to-remember-is-that-in-relationships-there-are-no-win/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“Fig. 8.2. Trust Realms The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/fig-8-2-trust-realms-the/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“The attitude of exclusive professionalism (which restricts the label of professionalism to the advisor) manifests itself in a number of dysfunctional ways. It reinforces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/the-attitude-of-exclusive-professionalism-which-restricts-the-label/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“It is not enough for a professional to be right: An advisor’s job is to be helpful. David”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/it-is-not-enough-for-a-professional-to-be-right-an-advisor-s-job-is/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“There are dangers in this model of succumbing to “committee-itis.” If too many people are jointly responsible for the execution of firm business, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/there-are-dangers-in-this-model-of-succumbing-to-committee-itis-if/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“The biggest leverage for reliability enhancement probably lies in the emotional realm. The more a provider can do to understand and relate to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/the-biggest-leverage-for-reliability-enhancement-probably-lies-in-the/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“while most providers sell on the basis of technical competence, most buyers buy on the basis of emotion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/while-most-providers-sell-on-the-basis-of-technical-competence-most/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“Make specific commitments to your client around small things: getting that article by tomorrow, placing the call, writing the draft by Monday, looking up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/make-specific-commitments-to-your-client-around-small-things-getting/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“In early Greek society, particularly in Athens, democracy meant the equivalent of a permanent town meeting—all decisions of consequence were made in public assembly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/in-early-greek-society-particularly-in-athens-democracy-meant-the/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“By starting with caring (working from the inside out), we open ourselves to possibilities and become willing to go where the client will take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/by-starting-with-caring-working-from-the-inside-out-we-open-ourselves/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“Sincerity, the way we usually mean it, has to do with intentions; we assume it comes from within. But our clients have no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/sincerity-the-way-we-usually-mean-it-has-to-do-with-intentions-we/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

> [“It is important to note that while goods are consumed, services are experienced. The professional service provider is (or should be) as much in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/it-is-important-to-note-that-while-goods-are-consumed-services-are/)

[David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

[Explore all 32 David H. Maister quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/)

## More Phone calls quotes

> [I get very anti-social, depressed and irritable with people. I don't have time for them. I can't make phone calls and stuff. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/i-get-very-anti-social-depressed-and-irritable-with-people-i-don-t/)

[Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/)

> [I'm signed to a U.S. label, and I didn't enjoy the 3 A.M. phone calls. I'm not a great sleeper, so I didn't enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle/i-m-signed-to-a-u-s-label-and-i-didn-t-enjoy-the-3-a-m-phone-calls-i/)

[Estelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle/)

> [To tell you the truth I am hard put to think of anyone who's career was affected significantly by making all those phone calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabney-coleman/to-tell-you-the-truth-i-am-hard-put-to-think-of-anyone-who-s-career/)

[Dabney Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabney-coleman/)

> [“You wonder why I don’t answer your 3 a.m. phone calls. When you say “I miss you”, I begin to undress myself out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sierra-demulder/you-wonder-why-i-don-t-answer-your-3-a-m-phone-calls-when-you-say-i/)

[Sierra Demulder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sierra-demulder/)

> [“It is crucial to establish early in treatment that the victim has actually conveyed, in unambiguous terms, that they do not want the stalker’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-boon/it-is-crucial-to-establish-early-in-treatment-that-the-victim-has/)

[Julian Boon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-boon/)

> [It's hard to understand the athlete's lifestyle. You literally eat, sleep, train. You go to training camps in the winter where there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oksana-masters/it-s-hard-to-understand-the-athlete-s-lifestyle-you-literally-eat/)

[Oksana Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oksana-masters/)

> [“Ironically, you’ll probably get far more done when only half of your workday overlaps with the rest of your team. Instead of spending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fried/ironically-you-ll-probably-get-far-more-done-when-only-half-of-your/)

[Jason Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fried/)

> [“And the sex,” I said. “It will be frequent. Possibly violent. You’ll be screaming. Neighbors will make phone calls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/and-the-sex-i-said-it-will-be-frequent-possibly-violent-you-ll-be/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [We hope that the elected officials will respond positively to a ground swell of letters, phone calls, e-mails and visits from parents. The law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-hope-that-the-elected-officials-will-respond-positively-to-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [For days after death hair and fingernails continue to grow, but phone calls taper off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/for-days-after-death-hair-and-fingernails-continue-to-grow-but-phone/)

[Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/)

> [“So if you’re dealing with a nonperforming employee, particularly on issues related to work ethic, I suggest that you begin by asking three questions:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-morley/so-if-you-re-dealing-with-a-nonperforming-employee-particularly-on/)

[Patrick Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-morley/)

> [Relationships this days are harder now because conversations become texting, arguments become phone calls and feelings becomes status updates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/insane-insomniac/relationships-this-days-are-harder-now-because-conversations-become/)

[Insane & Insomniac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/insane-insomniac/)

> [“What did it take to claim a person, really? One perfect night? A few weeks of phone calls, hundreds of texts, all of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/what-did-it-take-to-claim-a-person-really-one-perfect-night-a-few/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Life's Highs... 1. Laughing hysterically 2. Dancing your heart out 3. Star gazing 4. Shopping 5. Going to the beach 6. Listening to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-s-highs-1-laughing-hysterically-2-dancing-your-heart-out-3-star/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [I promise you, anybody given the choice of that kind of money or having to make a phone call to tell your dad that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/i-promise-you-anybody-given-the-choice-of-that-kind-of-money-or/)

[Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/)

[Browse all 564 Phone calls quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-calls/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Review agendas with your client, before meetings, before phone calls, before discussions. Clients should know that they can expect you to always solicit their views on how time will be spent. 6.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David H. Maister"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/review-agendas-with-your-client-before-meetings-before-phone-calls/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Phone calls"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/review-agendas-with-your-client-before-meetings-before-phone-calls/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6a/david-h-maister-19663_phone-calls_review-agendas-with-your-client-before-m_440761.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6a/david-h-maister-19663_phone-calls_review-agendas-with-your-client-before-m_440761.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6a/david-h-maister-19663_phone-calls_review-agendas-with-your-client-before-m_440761.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Review agendas with your client, before meetings, before phone calls, before discussions. Clients should…” — David H. Maister",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "David H. Maister",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Review agendas with your client, before...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/review-agendas-with-your-client-before-meetings-before-phone-calls/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/review-agendas-with-your-client-before-meetings-before-phone-calls/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```