“Sandra played a big part in the successful launch of my new law firm in early 2020. From a couple sessions of me doing stream of consciousness about my vision and views for my business, she prepared a good strategy and deliverables to bring it all to light and in a way that captured my vision and resonated with my audience…” Common Ground Condo Law, Chris Jaglowitz, Condominium Lawyer
I like to remind my clients that if they’re experiencing growing pains, it means they’re doing something right! Growing pains are usually a sign of success. That said, they can still be a pain!
Here are some examples of the typical scenarios that lawyers and other professionals grapple with as their professional practice either begins to seriously grow for the first time or as it faces its next stage of growth:
- Should you hire now or wait until you have more work?
- How formal should you get with performance reviews and job descriptions?
- How can you avoid the negative impact of biases in hiring, onboarding and promotions?
- How can you correct a drop off in quality? Or performance?
- How can you broadcast a message that resonates with your ideal clients and referrers?
- How can you build a community of referrers?
- How can you build a reputation that will generate interest with your niche market?
- How can you make your firm more sustainable?
- How can you prepare for the unpredictable future ahead? And pivot when needed?
- How can you assess the impact of your marketing? Or shift to something fresh and new?
- Should you use a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) program?
- What can you automate? Where can you introduce more tech for a better client experience or improved efficiency?
Handling these questions the way you handled them before won’t take your firm to the next level of success. To scale up skillfully, first understand the root issues behind the growing pains and then determine how best to navigate them.
“Sandra began working with us on marketing, but quickly helped our firm identify we needed to simultaneously do some work on systems and reorganization so that we would be in a position to leverage the new work to successfully grow. Her experience and insight have been vital to developing a successful marketing and growth strategy…” Bondy Immigration Law, Aisling Bondy, Barrister & Solicitor
So, what should your new playbook say?
You don’t have to revert to an old-school management style to ratchet up performance and business development efforts, in order to scale up your practice. Instead, establish a plan to go beyond your status quo. Begin with articulating a vision for your desired future state of the practice and then build the bridges necessary to overcome any gaps (people, functions, systems, skills, areas of practice…). The key to doing this exercise skillfully is to get really clear about your objectives and what may be holding you or the team back, before committing to your next steps.
…Through our collaboration with Sandra, DSEL has become more business oriented while still retaining our core values and strengthening our employee and client relationships…” DSEL, David Schaeffer, P.Eng.
To fuel up the team with the motivation and energy to implement the plan and ensure its success, focus first on rejuvenating your culture, collectively. Your goals to scale up will fall more easily into place from that place of purposeful strength.
This coaching program is ideal for small to mid-size professional services firm owners, partners and managers preparing to face change ahead. The program is customized to your needs, the specific growing pains your firm is experiencing, as well as the number and level of the individuals who will be participating in the development and implementation of your plans.
Book a consultation to learn more about developing a coaching program to support your goals to skillfully scale up your small to mid-sized law, consulting, architecture or other professional practice.
