Five Steps Toward Partner Unity

Source: Partner Insights

The following includes excerpts, reproduced with permission, from an article by August Aquila.

For CPA firms, partner unity is a key to success. But many firms don't know how to create it. Here are five steps to take:

1. Have a real mission, vision, and core values that are lived in the firm. Partners are in business to achieve more together than they could by themselves.
2. Create an open environment, where partners openly ask each other for help, admit their mistakes, focus on important issues (not politics), and look forward to working together as a group.
3. Don't be afraid to put critical issues on your agendas. If partners feel they cannot openly and passionately debate issues, there is no unity.
4. Strive for accountability. For firms with partner unity, this means that partners are willing to call their peers on performance or behavior that is hurting the team. Partner goals are known by every partner and progress reports are issued quarterly. In this environment, underperformers feel pressure to improve.
5. Focus on results, not just activities. Many partners are very busy during the year, but produce few results. Firm leadership must set the tone here. Obviously a pay for performance program is key.

For the complete article, click here.

From Partner Insights, Aquila Global Advisors, LLC, April 20, 2010, http://www.aquilaadvisors.com.