Adrianna Blair is shifting from contractor to high-value consultant with Consultants of Choice.

Organisational design specialist Adrianna started her business about eight years ago and has been contracting ever since. She always wanted to transition to consulting but couldn’t quite figure out how to make the leap.

She explains, “Contracting is like being an employee; only you get better rates because it's more volatile and there's less job security. But you still work in an organisation; they dictate your hours, and you fit into their construct. For me, moving to a consulting model is about specialising, building my own framework and having flexibility around how and when I work.”

Creating work environments where people thrive

Adrianna works with the public sector, both local and national government. She says, “My ideal clients are large government departments looking to merge functions or do things differently.”

“People spend such a high proportion of their time at work. It affects every part of their lives. So, I'm interested in creating work environments where people thrive. And I'm a systems thinker, so organisational design is my way of helping improve people's quality of life.”

“A lot of change in organisations fails or isn’t as successful as envisaged, simply because people feel like change is being done to them rather than with them. I've developed my own people-focused methodology for designing organisations. My approach helps organisations achieve better outcomes and offers their people a better change experience.”

“For me, moving to a consulting model is about specialising, building my own framework and having flexibility around how and when I work.”

Piecing the consultancy puzzle together 

Adrianna has the strength of coming from a generalist background. She says, “I know about sales, networking, and customer service. I'm experienced in management. I’ve a diploma in professional coaching, and I'm change management certified. I've been collecting the pieces of the consultancy puzzle over the years. But I hadn't figured out how to fit them together.”

“As a result, I’d been feeling frustrated for a while because I was really clear about where I wanted to get to, but I didn't have a clear pathway to get there.”

“Along the way, I'd talked to various experts. They all had great advice, but it was only ever a little piece of the puzzle. So, when Alicia announced Consultants of Choice, I thought, ‘that sounds perfect’. It was exactly the sort of thing that I'd been looking for. As soon as I saw it, I felt like it had been designed for me and I felt really excited and hopeful.”

“I’d been feeling frustrated for a while because I was really clear about where I wanted to get to, but I didn't have a clear pathway to get there.”

Realising you’re on the right track  

Consultants of Choice delivered for Adrianna from the very first module. She recalls, “The programme has been fantastic. It has everything I wanted. The construction really impressed me. Each module builds well on the one before, and it got me to do all the right thinking. There’s something for everyone. if you like engaging with people online, the community will be ideal for you. There are coaching sessions for people like me who prefer face-to-face. And then there's the modules you can work through at your own pace.”

“Authenticity is a strong value for me. And It has always resonated with me that Alicia is unapologetically herself and she has a genuine interest in helping people. Consultants of Choice works because Alicia gives a shit. She has a desire to make a difference, and she’s invested herself into this programme to support other consultants. That comes through.”

“I also appreciate the way Alicia shares things. She's very knowledgeable and has vast experience to draw on, but she's candid if something is not her area. She’ll say, ‘I don't know, but this is my take on it.’ She doesn’t pretend she's the expert on everything.”

“Doing Consultants of Choice has been really self-affirming for me. Although I hadn't managed to put the pieces of the consultancy puzzle together by myself, I’d built strong pieces. And now I understand how they all fit together. It's been really cool to realise that I was on the right track, doing all the right thinking, and I hadn't been wasting my time.”

“Consultants of Choice works because Alicia gives a shit. She has a desire to make a difference and she’s invested herself into this programme to support other consultants.”

“Consultants of Choice works because Alicia gives a shit. She has a desire to make a difference and she’s invested herself into this programme to support other consultants.”

Becoming credible in your own eyes  

One of the hardest things about becoming a consultant is learning to believe in yourself. It’s tough, but vital, because people can smell insecurity miles away. Adrianna says, “It surprised me how much the Consultants of Choice process helped shift me out of my imposter syndrome and self-doubt. I stopped asking myself am I good enough? And I started understanding that I really do know my stuff. I just need to believe in myself.”

“The programme also made me realise that I don't need to be a public speaker or to have written a book to have the credibility to start as a consultant. I’m good at what I do, and I’ll build credibility by being out there, doing the work, and talking about it.”

“I'm credible for myself now. And when you're standing in that place where you know you’re good at what you do, you land differently for others. Now I approach people with confidence because I’m operating in the right context for me. Context is so important because if you're operating in the wrong context for you, it comes through in some way. People can tell.”

“Our lizard brains are programmed to pick up on any sort of incongruence because our animal instinct is to interpret anything incongruent as a threat. It doesn’t matter what someone says. If their context is wrong our lizard brain picks up on subtle cues. You won't be able to put your finger on it, but there'll be something that you find jarring. And that's why the right context matters. It’s not sustainable to work in a field where you’re not at ease.”

“It surprised me how much the Consultants of Choice process helped shift me out of my imposter syndrome and self-doubt. I stopped asking myself: ‘am I good enough'?”

Stop dabbling, start doing

Adrianna’s two key Consultants of Choice takeaways are clarity and confidence. “I was so doubtful of my capability to do what I wanted and I felt stuck for years. Now I feel excited and confident. I've clarity on how my consultancy fits together and on the pathway I need to take, along with the confidence that I've got what it takes.”

“The Consultants of Choice journey encourages you to think what difference and uniqueness you bring to your business. And it inspires you to find your people and focus on appealing to them. And that that has really helped me to accept who I am. I feel like I've grown into my own skin. I'm a bit offbeat and quirky and that's cool. If I don’t resonate with people, then I probably shouldn’t be working with them. It feels like I've finally found my ikigai, the thing that I'm good at and I love doing, that the world needs and people are willing to pay for.”

“Consultants of Choice is ideal for people ready to get in the consultancy arena, boots and all. It's a framework that covers all the different aspects of being self-employed. And you find your tribe. It connects you with other people on the same journey who can provide insights. The programme is invaluable for anyone looking to move into the consultancy space.”

“I feel excited and confident. I've clarity on how my consultancy fits together and on the pathway I need to take, along with the confidence that I've got what it takes.”