Independent Consulting
Matthew Feldmann, PhD
Firm Director and Principal Researcher
Goshen Consulting
Edwardsville, Illinois, United States
Ann Price, PhD
President
Community Evaluation Solutions
Canton, Georgia, United States
Kurt Steuck, PhD
Director of Evaluation and Research
Steuck & Associates LLC
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Leigh Rauk, PhD (she/her/hers)
Senior Evaluation Associate
Collaborators Consulting Group
Milan, Michigan, United States
Jessica Metcalfe, PhD, MPH (she/her/hers)
President & Principal Consultant
Green Mountain Evaluation, Vermont, United States
Location: White River Ballroom B
Abstract Information: While this session uses the context of independent consulting, this is a session for all TIGs and affiliates and uses the powerful story of initiating the IC Topic Chats and the use of stories and regular communication as a way of regularly convening AEA members around shared interests. The IC Topic Chats were an independent activity initiated in 2020 as a way to gather independent consultants weekly to discuss mundane topics such as consulting attributes, identifying a niche, and setting fees. To date we have conducted 130 sessions and engaged 634 AEA members. It has engaged approximately 60% of the IC TIG. We meet 48 times a year and have far exceeded everyone's expectations. This is a round table session because it is not only about my story of the IC Topic Chats, it is about listening to your stories about how to engage your TIG or affiliate members. I want to know: "What is your story?" "How do you want to further engage your people around your shared interests?" "How can we help one another further engage our evaluation community?" The IC Topic Chats are my story. I will facilitate you in our shared conversation about how to engage with your people. A round table session is a perfect venue for storytelling and learning from one another. I can't wait to meet you.
Relevance Statement: The following email was sent to me. I have reworded the message to protect the original sender and included most of my response as a way of sharing the relevance of this this topic. Dear (XXX), I believe the IC Topic chats are an example of a successful online community of practice with a good balance of discussion and community building. I would like to know more about how you got started — how you established the regular strong attendance rates that you have, how things grew, and also what fraction of IC TIG members are represented by the attendees at the chats. Thanks you, ZZZ Dear ZZZ, Thank you for the question. Here are my reflections over coffee this morning. The IC Topic Chats started in May 2020. I had been teaching an AEA eStudy on XXX on a legacy conference platform and our communication was limited. I remember thinking, "I just want to chat with these folks!" We met every Thursday at 11 a.m. CT. After the sessions concluded, I suggested that we continue meeting and that I would go over the key concepts again and give more time for the group to discuss and contribute to the ideas. Add in a pandemic and Voila! you have the IC Topic Chats. Statistics: 6,551 - Lifetime registrations 634 - Lifetime Registrants 130 - Sessions since we started 76 - Average number of registrants per session this year. 60+% - Approximate percentage of IC TIG members who have participated at one time or another. 130 - YouTube Uploads Keys: * Motivated community. Independent consultants can be very anxious about how to start and maintain their business * Consistency. We meet nearly every Thursday at noon ET at the same Zoom link. * Passionate leadership/networking karma. I do this because I really care about these issues, I am constantly learning how to improve my business, and I know if I give freely of my time without any expectation of a “returned favor” good/unexpected things will happen to me and my business in the future. * Routine. Beyond consistency, the sessions have built a routine that includes 12 CORE TOPICS each year, silly themed sessions (st pats, valentines, Halloween), critical sessions like meet the pros and the subcontractor fair, and regular guest hosts * Core support. I rely on 3 or 4 colleagues to show up weekly. They can take host duties, if needed. They also serve as the “go-to” panel for panel sessions and/or when we reach a dead spot in the session and I need to get some thoughts flowing. * Common connection medium. None of this would be possible without a video platform that emerged during the pandemic * Free access. I don't have any ulterior motives. If this ever became a paid service, I think it would not survive. Cheers, XXX