What if the biggest obstacle in your consulting business… is your own management approach?

Most independent consultants left corporate to get away from bad managers, but end up recreating that dynamic for themselves.

In this episode, Melisa uncovers the #1 management mistake she sees independent consultants make again and again: becoming a “ghost manager” in their own business.

She walks you through the five components of being a good self-manager so you can stop unintentionally sabotaging your business and start building consistent, high-quality results.

You’ll learn to recognize where you’re disappearing, how that ghosting erodes confidence, and what it looks like to actually manage yourself like a high-performing business owner, not just a delivery engine for your clients.

If you’ve been over-indexing on client work and neglecting your business, this episode is your blueprint for getting back in the driver’s seat.

What you will learn in this episode:

[05:15] The “ghost manager” pattern and how it’s quietly stalling your growth and causing overwhelm
[11:08] The difference between self-leadership and self-management, and why you need both to run a thriving business
[14:35] Five key components of a good manager, tailored to independent consultants
[15:02] How to implement planning, systematizing, ownership, protection, and coaching in your own business, even as a solo operator
[30:45] A reflection framework to identify where you’re holding yourself back (and what to do about it)

Tune in to Episode 234 for practical strategies and mindset shifts to become the kind of manager you actually want to work for.

Full Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-234/

Related Resources

• Join the waitlist for Melisa’s Business Brain Journal, https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 
• Companion Resource: Read Melisa’s book, Grow Your Consulting Business: The 14-Step Roadmap to Make Your Independent Consulting Goals a Reality, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSXJBGVB
• Related Podcast Episode: Episode 233 - The Big Leadership Mistake Independent Consultants Make, https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-233  
• Work with Melisa: Apply for a Coaching Exploratory call at https://www.consultmelisa.com   

Want More?

• Get Melisa’s Book: https://www.melisaliberman.com/book
• Visit with Melisa’s Website: www.melisaliberman.com 
• Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melisa-liberman 
• Get Notified When Melisa’s Products Launch: https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 

If you want a predictable pipeline in 2026, I’m hosting a live training to show you how to create steady consulting opportunities, even when you’re busy delivering. You can choose from two dates, January 13 or January 15. There are no replays. 

Go to ICworkshop.info to grab your spot. 

Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.