Podcast Summary

In this opening episode of Series 3, I reflect on one of the quiet but critical challenges of working independently in HE: balancing client delivery with the development of your own consultancy or freelance practice.

When you’re deep in delivery mode, business development can slip off the radar. And when you’re focused on visibility, networking, and strategy, it’s easy to worry that you’re not “earning” your time. This episode explores that tension and offers practical, sustainable strategies for building a practice that supports you, not just one that keeps you busy.

I share lessons from my own practice, questions I revisit when I feel stuck, and a few systems that help me maintain the ongoing balance between working in the business and working on it.

Key Takeaways

• Balancing delivery and development is not a one-time task; it’s a recurring rhythm that needs tending.

• It’s easy to slip into reactive mode when you’re busy with client work, but setting time aside for your own business is essential to long-term sustainability.

• You don’t need to do everything; just focus on a few strategic activities you can do consistently.

• Guilt is common, especially when business development feels intangible or self-indulgent. But it’s part of the work, not a distraction from it.

• Tools, habits, and boundaries can help, but so can reframing what counts as legitimate work in your week.

  
  

  Links to Relevant Resources

  
  

  • Thinking about going freelance or setting up a consultancy in HE? My short courses offer practical guidance to help you take the first steps. Find out more at khlconsulting.co.uk/courses

  • KHL Consulting Website: www.khlconsulting.co.uk

  • LinkedIn Profile for Karen Heard-Lauréote: www.linkedin.com/in/profkhl

• • Network for Educational Enhancement Consultants: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14409504

  
  

  Calls to Action

  · Subscribe and Share: If you enjoyed this episode or are finding this series or previous ones helpful, please subscribe and share it with your network.

  · Connect on LinkedIn: I’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s podcast, so feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

  · Look Out for Series 3 Episode 2: We’ll be back soon with thenext episode. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!

  
  

Podcast Summary

In the final episode of Series 2 of The HE Consultant's Toolkit, Karen Heard-Lauréote reflects on the often unspoken realities of working independently in the higher education sector. From working as an outsider and financial uncertainty to relational complexity, self-doubt and shifting definitions of success, Karen explores the nuanced emotional and professional dimensions of freelance and consultancy work in HE. With characteristic candour and insight, she shares the strategies and reflections that help her stay grounded, connected and purposeful between contracts.

Key Takeaways

• Independent work can be isolating; connection requires effort and intentionality.

• Financial instability carries emotional as well as practical implications.

• Consultants can be perceived as a threat or disruption to institutional norms.

• Lack of feedback can breed self-doubt; tracking your own growth matters.

• Success is not always defined by outputs or prestige—values alignment and wellbeing matter.

  
  

  Links to Relevant Resources

  • Thinking about going freelance or setting up a consultancy in HE?

  My new short course offers practical guidance to help you take the first steps. Find out more at khlconsulting.co.uk/consultancy-course

  • KHL Consulting Website: www.khlconsulting.co.uk

  • LinkedIn Profile for Karen Heard-Lauréote: www.linkedin.com/in/profkhl

  • Network for Educational Enhancement Consultants: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14409504/

    
    

    Calls to Action

    · Subscribe and Share: If you enjoyed this episode or found series two helpful, please subscribe and share it with your network.

    · Connect on LinkedIn: I’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s podcast, so feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

    · Look Out for Series 3: We’ll be back soon with the next series. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!

    
    

Podcast Summary

In this episode of The HE Consultant’s Toolkit, Karen Heard-Lauréote explores the subtle but significant political dimensions of consultancy in higher education. When brought into a university or college, consultants step into environments shaped by power, history, and internal dynamics - and their presence can be misread, misunderstood, or even quietly resisted.

Karen reflects on how she approaches these situations with care, insight, and professionalism. She discusses how to read the informal signals, assess institutional dynamics, and scope work in a way that builds trust rather than suspicion. With particular sensitivity to the current financial pressures facing the sector, she addresses how consultants can avoid being seen as a threat or a cost-cutting mechanism, and instead position themselves as constructive collaborators.

This episode offers a thoughtful look at how to work ethically, respectfully, and with emotional intelligence when the politics are quietly at play - or right on the surface.

✅ Key Takeaways

• Not all politics are visible. Often, the context that shapes your work is shaped by longstanding tensions, informal influence, or unresolved decisions, not just formal governance.
  

• First impressions matter. Pay attention to tone, urgency, who is involved, and how decisions are made. These early cues can tell you a great deal.
  

• Influence doesn’t follow hierarchy. Informal authority can shape outcomes as much as formal roles. Understanding this dynamic is key to working effectively.
  

• Stay within your remit. Be clear about your role and boundaries. Don’t be drawn into internal dynamics that compromise your independence or neutrality.
  

• Anticipate concerns. In a financially pressured climate, consultants may be perceived as threatening. Be transparent about your purpose and take time to build trust.
  

• Hold steady. When things get politically difficult, don’t rush to fix or absorb it. Step back, clarify, or slow down if needed — without losing your professional footing.

• Use tone and timing to deliver difficult messages. Introduce findings in conversation first, offer space for reflection, and provide flexible framing options.
  

• Lead with humility. Approach institutional cultures with respect, curiosity and care. People may be tired, stretched, or uncertain — meet them with patience, not pressure.

Links to Relevant Resources

• Thinking about going freelance or setting up a consultancy in HE?

My new short course offers practical guidance to help you take the first steps. Find out more at khlconsulting.co.uk/consultancy-course

• KHL Consulting Website: www.khlconsulting.co.uk

• LinkedIn Profile for Karen Heard-Lauréote: www.linkedin.com/in/profkhl

• Network for Educational Enhancement Consultants: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14409504/

  
  

  Calls to Action

  · Subscribe and Share: If you enjoyed this episode or found series two helpful, please subscribe and share it with your network.

  · Connect on LinkedIn: I’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s podcast, so feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

  · Look Out for Series 2: Episode 5: We’ll be back soon with the last episode in this series. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!