Professional Services Accounting ARTICLE -
How Can You Keep Lawyers And Staff Engaged?
Target Audience: Legal Professionals, Professional Service Firms, Law Firm Partners
An attractive benefits and compensation package may have wooed promising lawyers and staff to your firm, but it may not be enough to keep them enthusiastic about their work and retain them. So how can you keep lawyers and staff from becoming disengaged once the honeymoon is over? Read on . . .
What lawyers and staff want
Lawyers and other employees want many of the same things in a position, including interest from management in their professional development and well-being, advancement opportunities, feeling like a valued part of a team, and stimulating and rewarding work and client interaction.
But many law firms fail to fulfill these fundamental needs. So how can you motivate your most valuable assets to keep them productive — and at your firm?
Remedying the “disengaged syndrome”
It’s critical to be aware of the ways in which your attorneys and staff members demonstrate commitment to their work and to the firm. For example, do they volunteer for tasks outside the scope of their responsibilities? Do they suggest and take the initiative to implement new ideas, systems and protocols? Do they work collaboratively?
Then you need to create the right environment. For example, foster an environment that makes everyone — from rainmakers to support staff — feel that they’re an integral part of your firm. You can do so by expressing the importance of every individual’s contributions, value and expertise with verbal praise, bonuses and employee recognition programs.
Also, challenge and nurture lawyers and staff to use their talents and improve their abilities by providing training and career development programs. And be sure to do regular performance evaluations, talking with everyone about their strengths and weaknesses and how they can help accomplish firm goals.
It’s also important to assign staff members to cross-functional project teams. This will allow you to get feedback from lawyers and other employees about the different factors that help engage and retain staff members and what your firm can do to be more successful in these areas.
Set the bar
As a leader in your firm, you need to show your own commitment by establishing a common work ethic and shared values. You can demonstrate passion for your work, your clients and the firm by, for example, inviting staff to participate in an after-work volunteer project on behalf of the firm, circulating a positive write-up or article about the firm or one of its clients and regularly sharing information about the firm’s goodwill, community participation and other successes.
Moreover, discussing the day-to-day operations and costs of running your firm with lawyers and other pertinent staff can help them feel more committed to the firm and give them invaluable information to do their jobs. And keep lines of communication open with associates and staff about important developments in the firm, such as getting a major new client or hiring a new partner.
When bonuses, salary increases and other awards are determined, be sure to include all staff — not just lawyers — who contributed to your firm’s successful year. Also, publicly acknowledge their efforts in your firm newsletter, in a memo or at a firmwide meeting.
Look for answers
It’s critical that your firm deal decisively with any disengaged employees. For example, determine why staff members have become disengaged and evaluate what steps can be taken to revitalize them.
If all attempts fail and performance is an issue for an employee, you’ll need to determine if terminating his or her employment is the best option for everyone involved.
Disengaging the disengaged syndrome
The disengaged syndrome can be especially challenging during economic downturns, as lawyers and staff say “goodbye” to laid-off workers and say “hello” to lower bonuses and raises. The key is to find ways to enhance the work experience by communicating more, providing opportunities for growth and setting a positive tone at the top.
Find out how our expertise in professional services accounting can add value to your business. Email us or call us at 1 (888) 875-9770.
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