Finding Professional Services Success as a Way of Thinking

By Ray Grainger, Executive Chairman

Professional services firms have long survived on “experts on demand” – the contractors that can be hired for just-in-time projects. But simply using contract workers is not enough anymore. Businesses need to build and improve their digital infrastructure and domain expertise to scale on demand and dependably deliver freelancers on demand, helping them respond to a market that is expanding, becoming faster, and creating higher demands every year.

This way of thinking, and believing in one’s ultimate success and playing to win, is exactly how Kantata has continued to succeed over the years. And it’s the same perspective that professional services firms need today to succeed.

Professional services firms work from a team mentality. So choosing the right team can make a big difference in one’s career path. I encourage all of you to take a look into your mind’s eye and consider the options you have in your career. What does it look like? What’s the work all about? How do you fit in with the rest of the organization? Whatever your answers are, they are yours alone. The clearer it becomes, the faster it can be achieved, and when companies march to the same goal, they are unstoppable. To that end, remember that the best teams help each other succeed. If you can reach your individual goals, then you will surely reach the company’s goals.

But reaching goals takes careful thought and concentration.

The Importance of “Think Time”

We often have full schedules with long lists of jobs to be done and the idea of taking time to stop and just think can become foreign to us.

I suggest the opposite. When we are over-scheduled and have more to do than can be accomplished in the time we have available is the exact right time to stop and think. Dedicated thinking time will give you a much-needed break and help you determine what you should do, what you shouldn’t do, and help you refocus your energy.

I encourage all of you to practice “thinking time” regularly. Be mindful of taking time for yourself for reflection and introspection. Thinking when we are alone and not pressured by deadlines or interrupted by electronics is when creativity can flow. I find changing my environment stimulates innovative thinking. Airplanes have often been my think tank. Once I was settled into my seat, the ideas would fly freely. For others, it is taking a shower or taking a walk. Whatever or wherever stimulates your thinking, you should incorporate time for that into your schedule. Your head space deserves nurturing, it is an investment with a high ROI for you, the business, and clients.

Embracing a New Way of Thinking

Changing the way you think both as an individual and as part of an entire organization can be difficult, but is worth it.

Co-founder of investment firm Andreessen Horowitz, Ben Horowitz, says this: “Identifying the culture you want is hard: you have to figure out not only where your company is trying to go, but the road it should take to get there.” I agree and can tell you that there is no straight line to success. In fact, if we think that every plan is flawless and that we will never need to change, we’d be wrong. And that’s true for the mix of talent and the composition of our culture as well.

By not only viewing success as a way of thinking but purposefully giving yourself time to think, you can be amazed at the positive changes made for your organization.