Network Consulting – Four Ways to Minimize Stress

Few people would claim that network consulting is a stress-free profession. However, there are plenty of things you can do to minimize stressful days. This article offers four simple suggestions:

1.    Manage Expectations

Communicate well with your clients and try to make them better understand the work you do. If some major system changes are likely to result in teething problems or inconsistencies, tell your customers in advance. By managing expectations you can make people more understanding and patient, reducing the pressure on you.

2.    Use Resilience Features

When you design client systems, try to build in resilience features such as hot-swappable drives, redundant power supplies, and image backups. Anything you can do that makes systems easier to fix when they go wrong will reduce the number of nasty days you experience. It’s worth persuading clients to spend the extra money.

3.    Get Away

People working in the network consulting field often allow themselves to overwork. It is essential to get downtime, even when you run your own business. You should aim to get at least as much uninterrupted holiday each year as you would if you worked for an employer.

4.    Manage Time

Not everyone is naturally good at time management and prioritization. If you know this is a weak area for you, work to improve it. Make use of “to do” list software and helpdesk tools—perhaps even take a time management course.

Do you work in network consulting? What do you do to minimize stress? Share your methods in the Comments box below.

And to follow-through on the tips introduced in this short article, be sure to download your free copy of the special report on How to Start a Computer Consulting Business: 6 Proven Ways to Build Your Initial Client Base.

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