Many lawyers are frustrated when it comes to operating the "business" of their practice. Law school taught us how to think critically and help people, but it did not teach us how to run a business. As a result, much pain and long hours of work and frustration are created. Balancing the needs of your clients and operating your business is one of the most frustrating elements of running a law practice. The good news is, fixing it is not hard, it just requires a basic understanding you never got in law school. Let's begin by identifying whether you have effective employees.
In coaching hundreds of law firms over the past 15 years, I have a question I ask consistently: "Is it occurring?" What does that mean? Essentially, if what you want to be happening is happening, then it's occurring. If what you want happening is not happening, then it's not occurring. Simple enough? So let's analyze this in your practice. If you're frustrated with a certain part of your business, like hiring employees, because it's not being done effectively, then it's not occurring. If it's not occurring, then the person responsible for doing it does not have the proper skill set. Unfortunately, in a small practice that's usually you. So you must find others who know how to do it so you can get the employee hired effectively. This can be someone in your firm, or you can reach out to others and outsource your need. (LWP has many system services for estate planning attorneys; that’s what distinguishes this organization from most others.)
The interesting thing is, for those individuals you reach out to for help, it's really easy for them, which amazes most attorneys because we don't get it and it's so frustrating to us. (I personally hate it.) But for those who have the skill set, it's easy and it occurs! So as you look around your practice, if there's an area causing you pain, it is a clear message that you lack someone with a natural skill set to perform that task or duty. If drafting is not happening effectively, then you need to get someone who does it easily. They're out there and you can't stop until you find someone, because once you do, your life and your practice will change dramatically.
In building companies over the last 15 years, the level of pain I have endured along the way sometimes was unbearable. But now, as I have reached a point where many of those companies are operating without me, I look back at what the key issues were that I had to overcome. The answer? It all came down to skill set and ease!
What was difficult and frustrating for me was very easy for other people with the right skill set. To identify what five skill sets you need, your role and what roles you need to fill to support you, join us at our Tri-Annual Retreat in October. So the stress of running your business can subside and you can focus on what you do best and what is "easy" to you, and leave the other roles to the people who find them "easy" to do. Doors close October 2nd and we will NOT have any seats remaining, I promise you that!. It's not hard. Let Lawyers with Purpose show you how. Click here to register now.
David J. Zumpano, Esq, CPA, Co-founder Lawyers With Purpose, Founder and Senior Partner of Estate Planning Law Center
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