Updated September 2026: in early 2020 the onsite team changed the direction of a service request and kept saying they wanted "out of the box" thinking, while my manager kept adding suggestions that did not match the client's needs. I have rewritten it into advice on delivering creative solution slides that onsite teams actually accept.
After a weekend spent on slides based on my manager's inputs, the onsite team changed direction with new options entirely. Each day they said they were unhappy and wanted more creative thinking, while my manager added suggestions of his own that missed the client's requirements. It continued for about a week, and with my leave approaching, the work passed to my manager to continue.
What does "out of the box" usually mean?
Rarely something wild. It usually means the slides look generic: a standard methodology and capability pitch that could go to any client. What the onsite team wants is a solution that clearly responds to this client's situation, with a point of view.
How do you make solution slides less generic?
- Start from the client's problem, in their words, on the first slide.
- Show a specific approach for their constraints, not a generic framework.
- Include one idea they did not ask for but will value, such as a phased option or a quick win.
- Use their data: volumes, locations or systems from the questionnaire.
How do you get clarity on what the onsite team wants?
Ask for an example. "Can you show me a slide from a past proposal that had the thinking you want?" is a fair question and often more useful than any description. Ask what the client reacted to in earlier discussions.
How do you handle a manager's off-track suggestions?
Test them against the client's requirements, openly. "How does this address their scope?" is neutral and usually settles it. If it does not, share both versions with the onsite team and let them choose, rather than building two decks.
What should you hand over before leave?
A clear note of the onsite team's latest feedback, the current direction and the open questions. When work passes to someone else mid-way, the feedback history is what stops them repeating the same week of rejected drafts.
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