So You Want to Be a Partner?

Source: CPA Practice Management Forum

Mary C. Werner offers guidance for those interested in becoming a partner. Werner has drawn on her experience as a former partner and as a current consultant to develop a self-assessment system that helps aspiring partners reach their destination.

Werner recommends that team members with an eye toward partnership consider their strengths and weaknesses in four areas, starting with self-awareness. Werner recommends tests such as Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or a DISC assessment. She also suggests a “360 assessment,” which allows other people help you understand how you are perceived. The goals of these assessments are to gain a better understanding of yourself and to create a roadmap for your journey toward partner.

The other three areas are your ability to effectively lead a team, your ability to develop relationships and create business opportunities with clients, and your ability to lead the firm with the necessary vision and planning.

In each area – self, team, clients, firm – Werner provides what she calls a “map” that includes specific questions to ask yourself and others to help you more clearly assess strengths and weaknesses – specifically regarding requirements of successful firm leadership. Questions are answered using a scale of 1 to 6. For example, a “1” is a clear strength, a “3” is a weakness, and a “6” is “I don't know.”

The goal of Werner's program is to help people work proactively toward partnership by knowing their own strengths, weaknesses, and areas that need development.

For the complete article, read “Your Path to Partner.”

From CPA Practice Management Forum, CCH Incorporated, 800-449-8114, March 2012, p. 14.