The consulting lifestyle is pretty intense (it doesn't have to be but it often is). Often personal and family relationships suffer. Without significantly compromising time necessary for work, how can I lessen the impact on family.

Work-life balance is certainly an issue for consulting. Some larger consulting firms have made some strides to lessen intrusion of consulting on family. Consultants are a different lot. We are often loners when it comes to our careers. Many independent consultants usually don't have many close co-workers and spend much of our time with clients and prospects. Our spouses and children often don't know how to describe what we do other than to say that we are in "consulting". Try getting the family involved. Here are a handful of ways:

1. Take them to an industry trade show. There are always interesting booths, displays, giveaways and social/networking events.
2. Enlist their (paid) services to help you with mailings, filing, cleaning, editing, scheduling appointments, anything. This can apply to a spouse as well as children.
3. Ask them to review and provide their input into key reports or letters before sending ... especially the important stuff. They probably know well your perspective and can give their own take on your work and see things you missed.

Tip: If consulting is a relationship based on trust, try to take advantage of those you trust. Try to involve your family in your work wherever and whenever possible. It will reap rewards on many fronts.

© 2009 Institute of Management Consultants USA