ABSTRACT
Frequently, virtual group coaches (VGCs) and clients both are eager to get to the work itself, but skipping or shortcutting the initial project start-up phase will have disastrous long-term effects on the project outcome. Understanding the client’s environment before ever stepping foot into their building or having the first virtual or face-to-face meeting with key stakeholders is extremely important when it comes to starting the relationship off on a positive note. The psychological contract is a set of expectations of behavior that is formed in the initial meetings and shared by both parties throughout the life of the engagement. As a company that held many popular household brands under one umbrella, Palace Holdings was no stranger to acquisitions. Six months prior, Palace had acquired a popular product line from a small-sized competitor, and it was Chief Operations Officer Scott Newberry’s job to rapidly bring the product into the fold so that the marketing team could meet their sales projections.
