Fear not. Here are 7 ways to overcome this challenge.
1) Work out of an office-sharing center.
There are many office centers that cater to solo professionals. They provide office space, administrative support, and conference rooms. But most importantly, they provide a central place for people to congregate around a water cooler to socialize, share business challenges, and simply be around others.
2) Attend professional meetings designed for consultants.
Interacting with other solo consultants can do wonders to combat loneliness. As I write this article, I am looking forward to tonight's meeting of the Society of Professional Consultants. We meet monthly to listen to speakers about marketing, sales, branding, etc. The members are both new and experienced consultants in a variety of fields such as accounting, marketing, human resources, and sales. But more important than the speakers, I have made the equivalent of "work friends" there. We talk about our businesses, what is working for us, and what challenges we face. Ask around; I will bet there is a similar group in your area.
3) Create your own consultant support group.
I am currently a member of several small consultant support groups. One of them is a 5-person group of consultants who meet for breakfast monthly to share ideas and provide support. We have been meeting for more than 10 years. Last year I helped start a similar group of senior consultants in my small town. All of us have been consulting for many years and are able to provide advice and support for the business challenges we face. Reach out and try to create such a group for yourself.
4) Plan something social every day.
Make sure you get out of your office every day to do something where you will be around others, such as a breakfast with a prospect, a lunch with a fellow consultant, a dinner with a client, or a trip to the gym.
5) Meet with colleagues on a regular basis.
Plan to have coffee or a meal with fellow consultants on a regular basis. Sharing your successes and struggles with other consultants can be both therapeutic and energizing.
6) Reach out via telephone.
Email rarely helps combat loneliness. Pick up the telephone and call friends, relatives, and colleagues on a daily basis. Don't worry. Because you are a solo consultant, there is no boss who will be monitoring you and telling you to get back to work.
7) Plan something fun every day.
Take a look at your calendar. If you see that you are facing several days where you will be just working by yourself, identify some fun things you can do to break up the day. Take a walk, go shopping, ride your bicycle, read a few more chapters of a book. Just make it happen.
Bottom Line
Loneliness is one of the biggest challenges faced by independent consultants, but it can be avoided through planning. Anticipate that you may become lonely and be proactive about doing something about it.
© Copyright Bruce L. Katcher, Ph.D., 2012. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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About This Author
Starting a Consulting Business Expert Bruce L. Katcher, Ph.D. is an Industrial/Organizational psychologist, president of Discovery Surveys, Inc. and Executive Director of The Center for Independent Consulting. He is author of "An Insider's Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice" (AMACOM) and "30 Reasons Employees Hate Their Managers" (AMACOM). Reach out to Dr. Katcher for consulting assistance at BKatcher@CenterforIndependentConsulting.com, 781-784-4367, on LinkedIn at Bruce Katcher PhD, or on Twitter @BruceKatcher.
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