Sampling of 2009 Characteristics Shared or Ignored by Successful & Not-So-Successful Law Firms

Sampling Characteristics of Successful Firms in 2009:

1. An ongoing effort to improve management and leadership skills including having the most qualified (vs. most senior, etc.) leaders at the helm
2. Creating written action plans, monitoring them regularly and holding everyone timely accountable to do their part
3. Taking the need to market the firm seriously and doing it in ways right for the firm and its goals
4. Treating all employees and partners respectfully at all times (including treating/training/renaming receptionists as your primary “Marketers of First & Last Impression”)
5. Being decisive and avoiding the poisons of sticking our heads in the sand and/or procrastination
6. Offering adequate, timely and quality training, performance and attitude evaluations and coaching wherever needed (e.g. new software/equipment, stress or anger management, organizational skills, associate development, substantive law skills, etc.)
7. Defining success by what’s best/right for firm, its people, goals and culture vs. merely adopting society’s or traditional legal system definitions
8. Treating each client as if they were their only and/or best client & giving them multiple ways to offer their feedback and recommendations
9. Embracing technology with foresight, ethics, resourcefulness, creativity and perseverance for the learning curves
10. Diversification in areas of practice, clients, mindsets and employees

Sampling Characteristics of Not-So- Successful Firms in 2009:

1. Not doing one or more of the top ten success steps above
2. Failing to quickly put an end to office bullying, harassment and other ongoing negative behaviors/attitudes
3. Leaders in name only (e.g. with lousy leadership characteristics and skills)
4. Surviving day by day instead of charting, implementing and sticking with a plan for achieving long range goals
5. Failing to make timely, tough and wise changes needed in light of economic and other changing circumstances
6. Allowing negative attitudes and talking behind backs
7. Poor hiring/interviewing/training skills and systems
8. Lousy risk management systems or a failure to mandate compliance by all employees
9. Lousier stress management and office morale
10. Poor/sloppy client selection