not being the managing partner is no excuse for not polishing skills.
by ed mendlowitz
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practice doctor
question: i am a partner in a multipartner firm and have no firm management responsibilities, rather i manage a large book of business and while i do not bring in much new business (i don’t have time) i get substantial additional consulting services from existing clients and my realization rate is highest in the firm.
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but yet you told me i should attend at least one daylong practice management program a year. why?
answer: you may not feel it necessary to be involved in firm management so you do not consider it necessary to attend practice management courses or read about it. however, whether you realize it or not you are in a business – a “one-owner business” that is comprised of your book of business and responsibilities to have this work done as well as possible.
as an engagement partner, you are responsible for
- scheduling, staffing, supervising, quality control, meeting budgets and time requirements,
- interacting with the client and their key and not-so-key personnel,
- introducing your clients to additional services they might need,
- negotiating and setting fees,
- preparing bills and collecting what you billed,
- realization and profitability of the client or project,
- perhaps hiring, evaluating staff performance and possibly being evaluated by the staff,
- coordinating finished project with admin department to create the deliverable,
- collaborating or asking for assistance from other departments or partners, and
- juggling assignments.
you might also get involved with determining bonuses and promotions of staff you work with and the need to provide for succession and continuity of your work should you become incapacitated, are traveling or on vacation and do not like to respond to calls or emails at those times. you may also get involved with setting compensation of other partners and electing new partners, planning a firm or group retreat, and determining proper cpe for the staff you work with, and management training for them.
you are a “managing” partner – just not the firm’s managing partner. you’d better work on these skills!
a one-day-long map program is only eight hours a year – you need to work on finding that time. better yet, go on a two- or three-day out-of-town program. you will be immersed with practice management issues while interacting with counterparts in similar firms from all over the country.
one idea can provide big-time payback on a continuing basis.