NOW IS THE TIME TO GET THE MOST FROM EXISTING ACTIVITIES

This is the time of year when law firms are holding firm-wide retreats, summer associate programs are operating at warp speed, and busy lawyers are dealing with summer holidays and vacations, for themselves and their staff. The temperature is high, the economy is struggling, and harried firm management teams are especially overburdened with client responsibilities as well as firm management issues. All of which is why this is the perfect time to make sure that you’re getting the most out of the activities you already have in place.

We assist forward thinking management teams at our best law firm clients to adopt and implement a proactive approach to communicating the positive aspects of everything the firm is already doing for its lawyers and staff. Such communication improves productivity, morale, job satisfaction, and attorney retention. Here are some examples:

Vacations. Most firms have a vacation policy, but harried lawyers either don’t take vacations at all, or they work themselves too hard before, during, and after the vacation. When this happens, lawyers do not return to work with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.

Encourage lawyers and staff to take vacations. Make them true opportunities for recharging. Then, your lawyers and staff will return refreshed, prepared for the stressful work that is today’s law practice.

Think it can’t be done? General counsel for Fortune 50 companies take two full weeks vacation away from all forms of electronic communication, never call in for messages, never check e-mail. If clients can do this, lawyers can, too. Nothing will fall apart if lawyers take a break. Indeed, the work will improve upon their return.

Retreats. Firms spend thousands of dollars and many hours planning and presenting retreats. Proactive firm make sure the retreat is mostly about socializing, strengthening that all-important emotional bond between co-workers that keeps them working successfully in times of stress, through tough deals, and cases.

Is your retreat mostly a business meeting with maybe a little free time for golf? Instead, have a shorter business meeting and then a variety of opportunities for teambuilding that include spouses.

The business meeting should include a well-crafted “State of the Firm” address by a respected leader that is forward thinking, generates excitement, and shows that your firm is the best possible place to practice law.

Proactive managers actively promote the firm retreat and encourage attendance. They portray the event as an opportunity for the firm to show its appreciation for the year just completed, to build all important social relationships among lawyers and staff, and to outline plans for future success. You’re doing the retreat anyway. You might as well get the greatest possible morale boosting effect in the execution.

Pension and employee benefit plans. These are another significant opportunity to tout the firm’s support of shareholders and other participants. Surveys show that most Americans, including lawyers, are concerned about having enough money to live comfortably in retirement.

If your firm has a pension plan to which the firm contributes—and most firms do—tout the plan whenever you have a chance.

Tell people how much you are contributing for them. Make sure they understand that money you could be putting in your pocket now is being given to them in appreciation for their service to the firm.

Pension plans are a gift. Recipients should be grateful for them, but they won’t be if they don’t understand that a pension plan isn’t just deferred compensation.

Perception Management. Keep in mind that it has been well proven, time and again, that what one perceives is one’s personal reality. Managing perception is one of the most significant things firms can do to enhance lawyer performance and improve profitability.

When you have a good thing and you know it, let it show. Here are some suggestions:

©PeopleWealth Summer 2002