Public Health Consulting: Find Your Community
In past blog posts, I have written about fighting loneliness or isolation as a consultant. For many, it can be a big change from working in person, on a team, to working solo often from your home office. However, while connecting with other consultants sounds like a great idea, I have heard people express hesitation. They hesitate because other consultants may be doing the same or similar work. Should they really befriend someone who is their “competition?”
My response to this question: 100% Yes!
The hesitation to connect comes from a scarcity mindset- thinking that there isn’t enough consulting work to go around, so you have to fight for it. This mindset makes it easy to feel intimidated or bad about your business if you perceive someone else is doing it better. I encourage you to shift to an abundance mindset- meaning that there is plenty of work for all of us and the right clients will find the right consultants who are a good fit.
I am a “convener” by nature, I love bringing people with similar interests together. Over five years ago I started intentionally building connections with other consultants. I started a Facebook networking group in 2014. We started with about five people and have now grown to almost one hundred. I connected with Australian consulting colleagues with that group, and they have since started their own country-specific consulting network. Both of our groups exemplify their tagline “cooperation over competition”. The Facebook groups have led to Zoom calls, mastermind groups, collaboration on proposals and projects, book clubs, and real life friendships!
In preparation for this blog post, I quickly brainstormed all the ways my consulting community and collaborations have helped me personally and in my business:
Reduced feelings of isolation
Provided colleagues to bounce ideas with (and vent with!)
Provided me with talented subcontractors to help when I had too much work
Support! MANY consulting friends offered their help to cover client work when my father was sick and when I was pregnant or on maternity leave
Shared my work. My work has reached a broader audience because other consultants share my content and services on social media. They also invite me to be a guest on their podcasts
Deepened my referral network. I have an incredible roster of consultants I can refer clients to (or partner with if additional/specialized expertise is needed)
Shared their knowledge. I’ve learned so much from my consulting colleagues. They’ve taught me about public health topics, but also about running a business, dealing with difficult clients, which insurance companies have the best deals on liability insurance, and so much more!
Introduced me to kindred spirits who have similar interests like gathering for monthly book discussions
Generously volunteered their time to my blog- both as consulting spotlights or guest writers on topics of specialty. This is a win-win, it gives me great content to share with my readers and I feel so good giving their business a boost, often introducing them to a new audience.
Even though I work from my home office, I often feel like I have more “co-workers” now compared to when I worked in a real office. As we continue to gather together, it is easier to see the incredible diversity and niche services we offer under the umbrella of “public health consulting.” This revelation actually reduces the anxiety that everyone is my competition.
This blog post was inspired by a podcast episode that I heard last week. The timing was quite fitting, given that I am currently collaborating with and supporting two other consultants and business owners.
I have been helping to spread the word about Dr. Huntley’s upcoming Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship Expo. Her work is the perfect example of the power of community. One of the Expo’s goals is to “Demonstrate the power of collaborating with public health colleagues and working together in a supportive way to showcase our products and services.”
I have been working on a fun collaboration with PH SPOT - including a podcast episode, free webinar, and bundle of bonus resources for their community (bonuses expire 2/21/20- so check it out!!)
Tell Me What You Think:
How do you feel about the approach of “cooperation over competition”? Do you see that approach in your own work? Why or why not?