The Challenge of Leading Leaders
Source: Partner Insights
The following includes excerpts, reproduced with permission, from an article by August Aquila.
Most professionals don't like to subordinate themselves to others. This causes many to act like the Lone Ranger. Given the inherent independence of mind of most professionals, you can understand why they are so difficult to manage and why it is difficult to get them to adopt common goals. With the attitude that “no one does it better,” it is not surprising that accountants often refuse to listen to others outside of their profession. Many years ago most doctors adamantly said that managed care would never happen. Most of these doctors are now employed by managed care operations.
To get partners more engaged and accountable, there are six areas that you need to constantly focus on:
- Articulate what the firm wants to accomplish (its vision).
- Get partners and others to live the firm's values (this is how we do things around here).
- Clarify what it means to be a partner at the firm.
- Conduct partner performance reviews.
- Compensate based on performance and helping the firm achieve its strategic objectives.
- Focus on successful leadership throughout the firm.
If you want to learn about these six areas, Rob Lees, one of the authors of When Professionals Have to Lead, and I have published a short, hands-on book entitled How to Engage Partners in the Firm's Future.
For the complete article, read “Why Are Professionals So Hard to Manage?”
From Partner Insights, Aquila Global Advisors, LLC, December 2014, www.aquilaadvisors.com.