When times are tough, consultants—big-firm senior practitioners to soloists—tend to hold on tightly to every billable hour. You stop delegating because your instinct is to hunker down and protect what you have. It’s perfectly understandable (lizard brain anyone?) but counter-productive in the long run.

Since the economy is perking up a bit, it’s a good time to think about some consulting math. For example:

1 x 1 = 4 Choose high potential junior consultants in your firm (or trusted outside contractors) who will do a knock out job. Give them some challenging work to do with your clients. Stretch them, excite them and mentor them. Who knows? You’ll free up some time and you could create new synergies with your clients and for your practice.

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The recent public rash of incivility reminds me how important it is to find good mentors—people who will guide you when you make a mistake and, better still, help you avoid some!

Consultants and advisors—especially those running busy practices— sometimes have difficulty finding and nurturing good mentors. Being “the expert” may make it hard for you to put yourself in learning mode. And time is precious.

But there are still ways to connect with—or serve as—a mentor. Some ideas:

Identify a few people who resonate with you and with whom you feel mutual admiration and respect. Discount age as a factor—you can learn from and teach to folks of any age.