Creating Connection in a Solo Practice

Jul 29

Building Your Support System as an Independent Consultant

Last week, I sat down with independent consultant Michaela Howard. We found ourselves deep in conversation about something that's been on both our minds lately: how to create meaningful support systems as independent consultants.

Michaela Howard, coaching and consulting extraordinaire!

I've known Michaela for years and have always admired her commitment to collaboration and her thoughtful approach to organizational challenges. Check out her services if you need support with leadership development, strategic planning, or people operations.

Michaela supports mission-driven organizations through leadership coaching, consulting, strategic planning, and facilitation. She brings a wealth of experience helping teams clarify vision, design effective systems, and build cultures that maximize impact while embodying values.

This challenge of building support marks one of the most significant transitions when moving from organizational employment to consulting.

The Loneliness Challenge

For Michaela, the fear of isolation was present before she even made the leap to independent consulting.

"My biggest fear before becoming a coach was that I would be lonely," Michaela shared.

"I crave collaboration. I love collaboration. Being a coach is a collaboration with your clients, but it's different. You're not working side-by-side on projects together."

This hesitation is common among those considering the move to independent work. Many of us built our careers in team environments where collaboration was constant. The prospect of working alone can feel daunting.

Michaela's transition to consulting came out of necessity due to family circumstances. On the leadership team at her previous employer, she found herself unable to continue contributing at the level that she was used to because of an illness in her family.

And from her very first networking calls as an independent consultant, she was already thinking about collaboration.

Creating Your Support Network

Michaela didn't wait for support to find her. She actively built it from day one. Here's how she approached it:

Co-working Buddies

Over her first year in business, Michaela gathered several co-working buddies who served different purposes based on her specific support needs.

"As an independent consultant, I needed to develop my skills as a small business owner," she explains. "I sought support for business planning, marketing, website development, and sales because those were activities I had never done before."

This targeted approach led her to establish various co-working relationships.

"I had a coaching co-working buddy for feedback on our coaching businesses. I had consulting co-working buddies who reviewed proposals, gave feedback, and helped me determine pricing when I was new to that process."

These relationships provided both practical support and human connection. "If you're the type of person whose thinking strengthens in conversation with others, setting up a regular co-working opportunity is super helpful," Michaela advised.

Her co-working arrangements varied in format (in-person at coffee shops or virtual) and origin (existing contacts or new networking connections). The key was finding compatible partners and establishing regular meeting times.

One important lesson: set clear timeframes.

"I would suggest setting a specific period, like starting with six months?' Then check in about whether you want to continue. For some, it was just a perpetual monthly invite, and eventually I realized our relationship and work had evolved and we didn't need to meet in that capacity anymore."

Coaching Relationships

Beyond co-working buddies, Michaela found value in more structured coaching relationships.

"I found someone who wanted to do barter coaching. We were each other's coaches. She acted as an informal business coach because she had a lot of business experience."

Later, when launching new initiatives, she invested in professional support: "If you're actually launching something, if you're doing something big or need to stretch yourself in new ways, investing in a coach can be invaluable.”

While co-working buddies provided general feedback and accountability, coaches offered specialized expertise for specific business challenges. A marketing consultant, for instance, helped Michaela articulate her offerings more clearly on her website.

One important note if you pursue barter arrangements: "Have a contract," Michaela emphasized. "This can provide important guardrails for the relationship that help ensure the trade is fair.”

Communities

The third pillar of Michaela's support system came through joining established communities:

"I started joining communities. Fractional People People, a Slack group for people operations consultants, became my consulting home. I learned a lot about building a consulting business through networking and participating in training for the community."

This Substack newsletter is written by the Chorus Community. If you’re an independent consultant interested in learning more, email sam@chorusai.co.

These communities provided a space to ask practical questions about tools and approaches. It's helpful to have a community of consultants who have done it before who can give you advice on the basics of running a business and share experiences on things as small as picking a scheduling app or as big as making an annual business plan.

The Collaboration Challenge

Despite building these support systems, Michaela is still open to finding deeper collaboration opportunities.

“I'm still actively seeking opportunities for formal collaboration, whether through project-based contracts or ongoing strategic partnerships with other consultants.”

This desire for true partnership on client work presents challenges in the consulting world. When Michaela asked another consultant about co-facilitation opportunities, she received a discouraging response. "She said, 'In theory I would like to do that, but in reality I haven’t found it to be financially feasible.'”

This reflects a reality many independent consultants face. Client projects often don't have the budget to support multiple consultants, and the competitive nature of consulting work can make sharing opportunities difficult.

Michaela has found creative ways to collaborate despite these challenges. “I choose to hold an abundance mindset when it comes to partnerships with other coaches and consultants.” She co-led a coaching group for non-profit managers with a colleague. The collaboration provided benefits beyond money – confidence, learning complementary skills, and the joy of working together.

"We had similar focus areas and complementary styles. We could play off each other. It was something I wanted to do but, as a new coach, had some fear about diving in by myself. Having a buddy made me feel more confident and in the end, I think it made it more successful."

Supporting Yourself

Beyond external support systems, Michaela emphasized the importance of internal practices.

"Creating support for yourself is also about what you're doing to stay in tune with yourself. I've noticed how many more mistakes I make when I'm in go-go productivity mode. When I pause and say, 'Is this email ready to send? Is this proposal ready? Do I need to sleep on it?' – that's when I do things more in line with my values, and how I want to run a business."

Self-care is also essential for business success. "I plan my day around my workouts. That's important for me to be successful in my contribution to my work and my mental health."

This ability to structure your day around your needs represents one of the key benefits of independent consulting. The freedom to design your work around your life, rather than the other way around, can lead to better decisions and higher-quality work.

Practical Steps to Build Your Support System

First, get clear on what you need support on so you can fulfill specific needs. Then, check out these ideas.

Share

For Connection and Feedback

Identify potential co-working buddies from your existing network or through networking events
Propose a specific timeframe (3-6 months) for regular co-working sessions
Be clear about what you hope to gain and contribute to the relationship
Set a regular cadence that works for both parties (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly)
Use the time for both work and also feedback on specific challenges

For Specialized Support

Identify areas where expert guidance would accelerate your progress
Consider investing in a coach or consultant with specific expertise
Explore barter arrangements with clear agreements about expectations
Join communities specific to your consulting niche
Attend workshops or training to build skills and connect with peers

For Collaboration Opportunities

Approach collaboration with an abundance mindset
Start small with low-risk collaborative projects to build trust
Look for projects large enough to support multiple consultants
Identify consultants with complementary skills to your own
Create your own collaborative offerings like workshops or group programs

For Self-Support

Build reflection time into your schedule
Prioritize physical and mental well-being
Create boundaries between work and personal time
Develop routines that help you do your best work
Recognize when you need to slow down to make better decisions

Finding Balance

Has Michaela's fear of loneliness been realized?

"Yes and no," she told me. "No, because I've set up all these structures for myself and developed strong and fulfilling relationships with peers. Yes, in that I am still seeking more official partnerships, but I know they will emerge in their own time. And in the meantime, I’m finding so much fulfillment in collaboration with my clients, and offering them valuable support that is helping them reach their goals.”

This balance – between independence and connection – defines the independent consulting journey. We leave organizations seeking autonomy and flexibility, yet we still crave meaningful professional relationships.

The key lies in intentionally creating the support systems we need rather than expecting them to emerge naturally. By actively building co-working relationships, investing in coaching when needed, joining communities, and prioritizing self-care, we can enjoy the benefits of independence without sacrificing connection.

What's your experience with building support as an independent consultant? I'd love to hear what's worked for you.

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