In a previous post, I shared how consulting colleagues have responded to the pandemic: rethinking priorities, pivoting to new styles of work, embracing emerging opportunities. I’ve been inspired by their thoughtfulness, creativity, resilience, and commitment to justice.

I asked them to reflect on what they’ll carry forward into the post-COVID-era. Here’s what they’re thinking.

It’s a big world – get out there! 

“Borderless and remote work is the future,” says Julie Ha Truong of Leadership Savvy. “I’ve been able to network with and land clients from across the nation and even internationally. People are much more open to connect and value my expertise in the online environment – more than prior to the pandemic.”

Dana Sanders of Osage Hill Associates tells a similar story. “Zoom has been amazing for workshops that I facilitate through the Regional Foundation Center in Philadelphia. Attendance has topped 80 or 90 people. Given the right topic, people from all over the world are willing to join. This level of turnout would have been impossible in a pre-Zoom world, where I might get 30 attendees.”

Balancing remote and in-person engagement

Here’s a persistent, gnarly subject: the pros and cons of remote engagement. The last year, notes Bob Osborne of The Osborne Group, “Made me realize that strategic planning can be done well online, and in some ways may even be superior. Online, it’s much easier to organize shorter but more frequent meetings.” He expects that to continue.

Other peers are looking for models to balance in-person and virtual meetings. Noticing improved board attendance at Zoom meetings – this detail was echoed by others and matches my experience as a board chair –

Alyson Molloy Hussey suggests that “clients stay with Zoom for monthly meetings, but plan for two in-person gatherings per year: a board retreat and a social event.” She adds a great tip: “Google surveys sent right after Zoom meetings helped to capture feedback. I received incredibly powerful data from folks who were relatively quiet in the meeting.”

Stan Yogi of Klein & Roth Consulting offers a cautious note about the future of meetings. “When the world opens up again,” he says, “and people have out-of-the-house options, meeting attendance may depress again, regardless of whether meetings are in-person or virtual.”

Better self-care: Fewer meetings and beyond

“Virtual meetings and phone calls can be draining,” says Jasmine Tyler of Solidarity & Solutions, “so I’ll be carrying forward more email summaries and inquiries. I can’t imagine wearing suits again, but it’s still helpful to get ready to greet the day. Because there is always another Zoom…”

Dana Sanders agrees. “Moving forward, I’d like NO Zoom calls. That’s not likely, but as many as I can turn into phone calls or even a well-written email, I will.”

More broadly, Meredith Emmett and Heather Yandow of Third Space Studio offer a challenge to all of us. “More attention is needed on what community of care looks like. It’s more than self-care and giving space for self-care. Organizations led by people of color are leading in this arena and white people (like us) have a lot to learn.”

Deepening partnerships

Another persistent theme: strength in numbers and taking action to deepen partnerships.

“I’ve been building an affiliate group of partners,” write Julie Ha Truong. “Fellow consultants who can support each other. This was often discussed in the past, but pandemic loneliness made us act upon it.”

Meredith Emmett and Heather Yandow had a parallel experience. “We have been reminded this year that the purpose of white supremacy is to disconnect people, and how important it is to find different ways of connecting. Regular gatherings of consultants, our work with clients, the executive director support groups, working together as a team and not as solo consultants – it’s all been super-important.”

Keep working for racial equity

“I was fortunate enough to build a diverse set of consulting clients who desire to center racial equity in their work,” writes Melissa Johnson Hewitt of Forward Movement Consulting. “It wasn’t in the plan, but it feels right. I see my role clearly now as doing my (small) part to shift our country’s trajectory on race and systems change, and encouraging others to join me.”

Julie Ha Truong adds, “Though I have always worked with diverse communities, I am even more committed to participate in designing a world that is more inclusive and equitable for all.”

Bob Osborne sums it up nicely. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion work is now an explicit business line of ours. I think the sector is truly self-reflective of how they can center racial justice in their work. It’s an important change and an opportunity for us.”

The more things change…

In some ways, the pandemic has underlined the ways that effective consulting, training, and facilitation can support positive results throughout the nonprofit community. In the midst of these massive pandemic changes, some essential truths remain the same.

“The pandemic has highlighted that the fundamentals of nonprofit fundraising still apply,” says Stan Yogi. “Organizations with strong cases for support, strong relationships with donors, and strong solicitation efforts had fundraising success.”

Good to hear. May it always be so!