Starting out in solo consulting – workplace wellbeing focused on the Highly Sensitive

[Tamara-H]

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Hi… So I’m starting a niche consulting business called Sensitive Thrive. I aim to help medium-sized organisations (as far as workplace employee size goes) see the value of the people on their team who are Highly Sensitive (and potential new employees), and then to help them create workplaces where they can thrive.

A lot of people are probably unaware of what this means, so briefly, it’s a genetic temperament which 15-20% of people have. That means, statistically, that any organisation is likely to have that percentage of HS people among them. Also their customers or clients, if any. In this sense, there are only two temperaments (we’re not talking about personality here, which is additional – it can be confusing, with all the labels around) – sensitive and non-sensitive. Each has strengths and weaknesses, and each is needed – in the ratios in which they exist. Aussie society, like the rest of the ‘West’, is basically set up for the non-sensitive majority. That makes sense, but is also ineffective and restricts what can be achieved. Some of the things HS people do for their organisation/society include adding creativity, solving problems, seeing things differently – and seeing more, demonstrating empathy, having insight, advising wisely, and being self-motivated and conscientious.

I am myself Highly Sensitive (I like the terms ‘Responsive’ and ‘High Sensory Intelligence’), and see a great opportunity for helping the world see what HS people can do, and need space to do. Also making work work for them, because so often, I think we really languish in employment, due to that skewed-towards-non-sensitive-people setup. I want to help that change, so that both people with this temperament can do what they do best, and their workplaces can benefit from that. I really actually think it can change the world. I hope it will! In time (not obviously just from me, but all those working for this in some way, and it catching on).

Happy to answer questions about it, just out of people’s curiosity, or how you can help your workplace improve. Generally, small businesses are perhaps too small for my service to be economical for them to take advantage of, so if you have questions about it as far as advice for your own business (if you have employees, or are considering the effect on customers), I’ll try to answer that, too. I’ve started a blog on my website, where I’ll answer some of those kinds of questions, and have just created a Linked In business page, where I’ll also share insights. You can find these at http://www.sensitivethrive.com and au.linkedin.com/company/sensitive-thrive (not much on that one yet – but there is some info at my individual Linked In profile about it: https://au.linkedin.com/in/tamara-hann-943a4581)

[Dave Gillen – Former FS Concierge]

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Welcome to the forums [USER=119788]@Tamara-H[/USER]!

Love this initiative, but also a challenging concept to sell I imagine.
I would like to see more examples of this maximum potential being realised, and more examples of what happens when this problem is not addressed. These will help a potential customer visualise the difference between hiring you and not hiring you.

Also, your service might be more valuable to some types of companies, where your service will REALLY make an impact. I don’t know which ones these are, but your experience can likely tell you where to focus.

Just some ideas. I think selling your services will be easier if you can help companies to identify the sweet spot for making your service pay.

Dave

Dave Gillen | LinkedIn

[Tamara-H]

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Hi Dave. Your ideas are very true! Sound advice. It’s similar to advice I’ve received from others, too. I have some lists/information for those sorts of questions; I just have to decide what to share in different places. Here, I thought I’d more introduce the concept and reason behind why I started, rather than trying to sell it, so much – since my clients are most likely to be larger than the small businesses represented here.
Finding examples – actual real-life examples from workplaces – of what happens when they are and are not supported – is difficult. I’m not sure how to find them. I do give general examples, though.
You’re right that it’s a challenging concept to sell, not least because the temperament itself is really easy, it seems, to misunderstand; as well as the idea of what I’m doing – i.e. not trying to pander to, or create perfect specialist conditions for one group, but helping them so that they help everyone.
I do find it difficult, though, to articulate those direct benefits. I might be getting better with each attempt…?!

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