The Unexpected Joy of Being Part of a Team
Nearly 30 years into my career, I have learned a few things about myself. One of them is that I enjoy being a single employee consulting firm. It was a deliberate decision when I established Hallett Philanthropy, and it remains the right decision for me today.
I spent the first 23 years of my career working within multifaceted organizations, leading large teams, managing people, and navigating the complexities that come with organizational leadership. When I began my own consulting firm nearly 7 years ago, I made a conscious choice to structure my business differently. I wanted the flexibility to select the clients I serve, manage my schedule, and focus my energy on the work I find most meaningful. Equally important, I wanted a business model that worked for my family.
And it has worked. Very well.
I enjoy the independence, the direct relationships with clients, and the ability to make decisions without needing a committee meeting. I love the aspects of running a company---the planning, the finances, etc. There is something satisfying about being responsible for both the successes and the occasional mistakes. I have never felt compelled to build a larger firm simply for the sake of growth.
Recently, however, I had an experience that reminded me of something I had almost forgotten.
I had the opportunity to partner with another consulting firm to serve a client. We brought different experiences and perspectives to the engagement, worked collaboratively, and ultimately delivered something that benefited from our collective efforts.
What surprised me was how much I enjoyed the process itself. The conference calls, the meetings, the conversations before and after those meetings, the exchange of ideas, and the opportunity to work through challenges together were genuinely enjoyable. I found myself appreciating the simple act of having colleagues again. People with whom I could debate an approach, test an assumption, share a concern, or simply have a conversation about the work.
A significant reason for that enjoyment was the quality of the people involved. The professionals at the other firm were exceptional. They were dedicated to the client, loyal to one another, engaged in the process, interested in different perspectives, and completely trustworthy. Everyone brought something valuable to the relationship. There were no competing agendas or concerns about who received credit. We were simply professionals who respected one another and wanted to do excellent work.
I suspect that was the biggest reason the experience was so positive. The people always make the difference.
Does this mean I am reconsidering my business model? Absolutely not. Being a single employee firm continues to provide the professional satisfaction and personal flexibility I want. My family and I benefit from the choices I have made, and I see no reason to change them. But the experience reminded me that even those of us who choose independence can miss certain aspects of working with others.
I enjoyed being collegial again. I enjoyed having teammates. I enjoyed the shared commitment to a client and the relationships that developed through the work. And I would welcome the opportunity to do it again.
Sometimes, an experience can remind us of something we value without requiring us to change the life we have intentionally built.
