Why "That's Not in Scope" Might Be Killing Your Projects | Ep. 17
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Host Robert Sur flips roles in this special episode as guest host Joseph Lewin takes the mic to interview him. Together, they dig into the hidden tension that arises when companies bring in consultants or internal admins to solve business problems — and how a rigid focus on scope can sabotage the entire effort.
Robert Sur shares why flexibility isn’t chaos but a key leadership capability, and how clinging to outdated project scopes is often a protective reflex rather than a strategic choice. The episode explores how true alignment on business outcomes — not tasks — can reshape the relationship between stakeholders and delivery teams. If you've ever heard "that's not in scope" and felt the air leave the room, this one’s for you.
📌 What We Cover
- The adversarial energy that often kicks off consultant-client relationships
- Why early signs of rigidity signal misalignment, not professionalism
- How Robert Sur learned to stop treating “not in scope” as a mic-drop moment
- The difference between delivering against a scope vs. solving a business problem
- How to realign with leadership when the ask shifts unexpectedly
- Why flexibility without clarity is just chaos — and how to avoid that
- The mindset shift from task-based KPIs to outcome-based accountability
- What leaders can do to avoid creating non-value-added work for their teams
- The power of reiterating “the why” at every touchpoint — even if it gets repetitive
- Real-world example of lead routing vs. comp plan misdiagnosis — and the fix
🔗 Resources Mentioned
- Delegate (referenced as Robert Sur's team and consulting approach)
- CRO (Chief Revenue Officer) anecdote around lead routing
Flexibility matters — not as a fallback, but as a capability.
The best admins and partners don’t default to “push back.” They ask:
What’s the outcome we’re still responsible for, and what’s the best move now?
18 episodes