Helping Managers and Teams Do Their Best Work “I have good people. Why do I still have to chase things, answer so many questions, and step in to get work finished?” I hear versions of this regularly from business leaders. They have hired capable people and care about their team but something seems to be…
Understanding Effective Performance Measurement for Professional Services Firms Data is exciting (and a little dangerous). Knowledge is actionable. This article aims to empower you to turn data into knowledge in a way that makes a true difference in how you run your firm. It is important to place the conversation about measuring data in the…
People deserve fair compensation. They also deserve good management.
When both are present, a raise no longer has to carry the weight of guilt, fear, hope, or avoidance. It can mean what it should mean: a fair and sustainable recognition of the value an employee is equipped—and accountable—to create.
The Problem with “Strategic Planning” Big-company advice Research from McKinsey and HBR often focuses on: These assume companies with layers of leadership and resources. Why it breaks for smaller firms Smaller firms usually have: Even in the best case scenario, when small firms copy big-company strategy processes they often produce beautiful plans that never translate…
Translating Big-Business Research into Lessons for Smaller Professional Services Firms One of the most common conversations we have with leaders of growing professional services firms goes something like this: “We’re busier than ever, but profitability doesn’t seem to reflect the effort the team is putting in.” Projects are moving. The team is working hard. Revenue…
Why Small Professional Services Firms Should Scale Capacity Differently If you spend time reading leadership books or listening to venture-backed startup advice, you will eventually hear the phrase: “Hire ahead of growth.” The idea sounds sensible. Build the team before demand arrives so your company can scale quickly when opportunities appear. In large organizations or…
The Leadership Discipline That Must Come First If you read leadership books or attend management conferences, one message appears again and again: Empower your team.Encourage autonomy. Push decisions down. Let people take ownership. In principle, this advice is absolutely correct. High-performing organizations do rely on empowered teams where individuals can make decisions, solve problems, and…