It was a way to start establishing myself. As a career changer, it also felt like a great way to demonstrate how serious I was about my new profession.

Taking the leap

When I started, I was shiny and new, having just launched my editing business. I was excited and keen to get stuck into this vibrant community I’d already begun to experience as a member. When Graham Hughes stood down, the chance to step into his shoes felt like a huge deal – and a huge opportunity. It was a way to start establishing myself. As a career changer, it also felt like a great way to demonstrate how serious I was about my new profession.

A full circle moment

When the institute chartered, it felt like a full circle moment for me. Ah, the exams and revision I went through to become a member of the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales). To be part of a respected professional community has always been a big deal to me.

Imposter syndrome doesn’t vanish; it just learns new disguises.

Facing the imposter

I vividly remember imposter syndrome striking as I drove to chair my first meeting – the anxious, looping kind that makes you rehearse your introductions three times before you’ve even parked. But once I was in the room, that anxiety eased. CIEP members have always felt like colleagues, not competition, and that spirit of mutual support is something that’s stayed constant throughout my time in the role.

I wrote about those nerves in my blog Dealing with Imposter Syndrome, back when I was an intermediate member of the then SfEP (now CIEP). I’ve recently revisited and republished that blog, reflecting on how those familiar twinges of doubt resurfaced after speaking at the CIEP conference. Imposter syndrome doesn’t vanish; it just learns new disguises.

What changes – and what doesn’t

Times change, and it’s really important to be flexible and take what you’ve learned with you. Some software and systems change, but the fundamentals stay the same: we’re part of a community that wants to do its best – supporting clients, whether they’re authors, traditional publishers, businesses or academics, and supporting each other, too. Having a place to ask questions and share ideas is vital, especially when you’re a solo business owner. It’s where you find your colleagues.

That sense of adaptability came to the forefront during Covid, when our group – like so many others – had to rethink how we met. Overnight, we went from meeting entirely in person to meeting entirely online. It could have been a setback, but instead it became an opportunity. Virtual meetings meant that people who couldn’t always make it into Manchester could still join in, and the group remained connected through those hard times.

For the last couple of years we’ve kept a blend that works for us: virtual meetings in October and January, when the nights are darker and no one relishes trekking into the city, and in-person meetings in April and July, when the lighter evenings make travel easier and more appealing. The possibility of virtual meetings has opened our options and given us a new way to respond to members’ needs – something that feels like a small but lasting silver lining from that challenging period.

Having a co-coordinator (hat tip and many thanks to Laura Burge) for a couple of years was another big change – and one that made a real difference. Sharing the role brought fresh perspectives and helped me approach meetings with more creativity. It was wonderful to be able to collaborate, to bounce ideas around, and to share the preparation. And that was when we experienced the velvet rope at our in-person meetings for the first time. So much fun! I learned a lot from that partnership, and it reminded me how much stronger we are when we work together.

The group is stronger together.

Practical lessons from the coordinator’s seat

I’ve learned some practical lessons along the way:

• Don’t take minutes while you’re chairing a meeting.
• Keep notes of any discussion topics you notice people talking about online – they might make great agenda items.
• Discussion topics have a way of coming around again, so even if you cover something one year, it may well resurface later – and that’s fine. It’s a sign of an active, evolving group.
• Polls are so helpful when making decisions (like which discussion topic to settle on).
• Festive get-togethers need to be booked early as people’s time fills up quickly at this time of year.
• Starting the January meeting with how last year went and plans for the coming year can be a straightforward and gentle lead in to the year.
• Accept that when you send group emails, a fair few replies will be bounce-backs telling you an address no longer exists.
• Hold onto things lightly (like all those email templates I painstakingly rewrote time and again).
• The group is stronger together. Do accept the support that is often offered by members – whether it’s taking minutes or offering discussion topic ideas. 

Seven years on, I’m proud of what the Manchester group has achieved, and grateful for the friendships, laughter and learning it’s brought. Stepping down feels a bit like returning a much-loved book to its rightful shelf – ready for the next reader to enjoy.

The new coordinator, Bethany Dahlstrom, will bring her own ideas and I fully support any changes she makes. It’s her book now. I look forward to continuing to be part of the supportive community I’ve enjoyed all these years.