What is the best way you have found to limit changes within your project?

In my experience, we can limit the change by many practices; like for eg: Give the client & stakeholders a through comprehensive idea about the scope (and the project in general), build a clear change control methodology; include the scope in the contract/agreement; include the change management procedures & the change cost & penalties in the contract; make sure that everybody (including project team) is familiar & capable with his/her duties, roles & responsibilities; document document document; follow up most often with the client & stakeholders; accept some changes as long as they dont hurt of affect the budget - shedule - quality (to delight the client) or as long as those changes would add more profits to you; but also keep updated records of all changes so you may use them in your claims or as a pressure in any tough negotiations. Don't be rigid to changes, accept them with open arms; welcome them; changes were, are, will be occuring & happening all the time!

Creativity and technical competence combined with ability to listen carefully and be sensitive to client's need from the outset. Clarity and consistency helps too!

Changes are inevitable and it is the only constant. But having said that we should be better at forecasting the situation thus avoiding last minute drastic steps which may in turn lead to considerable changes.