Discussion Report 23 Allison Hewlitt - Working Alone (but together)

Participants

• Eva
• Eva
• Pete
• Pete
• Nancy
• Michael
• Jess
• Michael
• Camilo
• Paul
• Claudia
• Lucie
• Beverly
• Marc
• Marc

Key Discussion Points

What's been learned?

• being independent is about finding a fit ie. meeting pressing needs for the kind of work that I want to do
• networking is key; easy when you are a buzzer
• segwaying into consulting made it easier ie. planned a year ahead while working within an organisation which made for a great departure into consultancy status; it was a good step up
• having a visible role of the KM4Dev community made a difference
• sometimes it is lonely work; miss the corridor chats; hard to keep motivated
• knowing that something good will happen made it easier (fit)
• it is becoming more important to me to work on contracts that don't compromise my own values; being able to do the things that I want to do is great
• can have sleepless nights (especially having others rely on me) & sometimes need to do more than I can ie. spending lots of time in an airplane
• disconnected earlier than job ended so that I could start running by the time that I left
• after a year and a half, I have plenty of work to keep me busy
• it was helpful to connect with two parallel networks: at the international and local levels
• unlike others I never feel alone and it has to do with web 2; in fact I would like more time
• as a manager, I often use consultants to support the work that I want to do
• returning to a previous organisation seems to make a difference in terms of how people perceive my work and contribution
• I am comfortable to walk away from a contract especially when I don't feel I get the respect I deserve; this was an important change within my organisation
• I discovered that I need to charge a reasonable amount and don't negotiate for less - otherwise I run the risk of being treated like rubish; if someone really wants you, they will find ways; $ isn't the issue
• I have heard about penalty clauses ie. when the client doesn't do the work that they are supposed to do, they are charged for it
• may need to consider using fake rates to work around organisations who have a consultancy rate that is lower than what you charge; or consider using lump sums
• for me, it is key to recognise different people's contribution; diversity is key
• add people you like to the team; though costly, it pays to work with others who will hopefully, one day, be able to generate revenue for the business
• constantly multi-tasking - hunting or hunted by deadlines
• in growing client relationships you can bounce more and more ideas with them
• the role is quite different as consultant; less leverage on organisational decisions
• you are not part of anyone's power play as outside so listened to more
• great for people who don't like to commute
• it can be scary and tiring at times; lots of time is spent on planes and nights can be sleepless
• you learn something new every day

Emerging areas for exchange

• Going Solo; Talking leaps; what draws us to be independent
• Keeping connected; Finding people to exchange ideas and bounce ideas
• Building and managing partnerships; knowing that others will deliver
• Ethics and values
• Competition or collusion ie. Marc, Beverly and Allison all putting forward a concept to a client - why not work together?

What I want to know/explore

• how to work effectively and keep motivated especially at home
• the differences in setting up an organisation or being an independent
• how do we link together better
• the tensions related to open business models ie. producing knowledge but also making a living
• how to test partnership relationships
• what its like to be an independent
• ways to have ongoing dialogue with people
• selling out on values when money is tight
• I work best in conversation - how can I include that in my work?

Ideas

• Create a separate space for independents to discuss some of the issues related to being independent; Done - see dgroups.org/groups/km4dev-autonomous
• could use CIARIS/Shirikisha or linked in to connect
• doppler could be used to track where people are going to provide an idea of when meet ups can take place
• Going Solo is one network for people going solo; lots of references
• Take part in one of Eva Schmidt's workshops "How to become a consultant in international development cooperation (next one taking place in Switzerland in Oct)
• grow the consultant list on the wiki
• Book recommendation by John Rowley