Adamson Advisory

A Managing Partner Dilemma

As the firm leader, you have many very important responsibilities. Sometimes you do what is easiest and sometimes you do what you like the best.

For example, you really need to focus on guiding the firm to a better workflow process but, a client calls with an interesting project and you take it on yourself rather than delegating. Putting client work first is an easy-out for many partners and especially managing partners. It’s something you know, understand and enjoy.

Almost daily, you feel pulled in too many directions and it’s not just your office life, it includes your home life, too. You are faced with:

  • Exercising for personal health
  • Home responsibilities, like yard work
  • Hobbies, because you enjoy them (like golf)
  • Taking on the duties of assistant coach for your son’s soccer team
  • Giving attention to those scores of emails in your inbox
  • Returning phone calls from clients
  • Filling out that performance review questionnaire on a staff person
  • Scheduling mentoring meetings
  • Conducting goal sessions with the other partners
  • Meeting with the firm administrator to handle operational questions
  • Meeting with the technology director about security issues
  • Review work on client engagements
  • Checking firm production for the previous day (or week)
  • This list could go on and on……

First of all, you are not alone. Most of your partners and staff feel the same way!

Just remember, you don’t have to do everything yourself. Help is there, if you ask. Delegate as much as possible to your firm administrator (practice manager). Allow the staff to take on more difficult client assignments. It will help them stretch and grow.

There is an old saying, doing ten things half way is not the same as doing two things as best as you can. Make thoughtful choices and never forget, it is okay to simply say, “No”.

 

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