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About The Consultant's Way Podcast

The Consultant's Way podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the complexities of the consulting and professional services world. We bring you insightful conversations with industry thought leaders and executives from top Professional Services organizations, sharing their expertise on how to:

 • Build high-performing consulting and professional services teams 

• Differentiate your offerings and increase organizational growth 

• Deliver exceptional client value and drive impactful outcomes

Brought to you by: 

• McMann & Ransford: A strategy consulting firm with over 30 years of experience helping leading B2B organizations escape commoditization and achieve sustainable growth. Learn more: https://mcmannransford.com/ 

• The Consultant's Way: Your one-stop shop for training and enabling consultants and professional services teams to deliver exceptional client value. Learn more: https://www.consultantsway.com/ 

 Connect with us: 

• LinkedIn: 

○ Dean McMann - https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanmcmann/

○ Anthony Paluska - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-paluska-5081804b

• Email: podcast@consultantsway.com 

 Interested in being a guest? 

We're always looking for insightful guests to share their expertise. Reach out to us via email or LinkedIn if you'd like to be considered for a future episode.

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 In this episode of The Consultant’s Way Podcast, Dean McMann and Anthony Paluska sit down with seasoned professional services leader Brian Silverman to talk about one of the most overlooked—and most critical—aspects of running a high-performing PS organization: strategic workforce planning.

Brian unpacks the real-world implications of getting staffing wrong: delayed revenue, client dissatisfaction, burnout, and missed growth opportunities. He explains why the “just-in-time” staffing mindset doesn’t work in consulting, and why so many PS orgs fall into the trap of reacting to demand instead of planning for it. From building a proactive hiring model to embracing college recruiting as a long-term strategy, Brian offers practical advice for leaders who want to create a staffing strategy that scales.

The conversation covers the balancing act between utilization metrics and talent development, the risks of holding onto underperformers, and how having a strong “next person up” bench can transform a practice. Brian also shares insights on leveraging third-party partners effectively—without damaging client trust or team morale.

Whether you’re managing a team of 10 or 1,000, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you’re developing talent, planning headcount, and preparing your firm for what’s next.