What do I mean when I say 'ease?' Consider golf - not even the pros would call golf an 'easy' game. But there are things that one can do to make the game of golf flow more smoothly and that can make a player feel more at ease when playing the game - the right equipment (who hasn't bought a new club and felt how much more 'ease' there was in the swing, the feel of the club, the way it contacts the ball), focus - getting 'in the zone', a great coach who sees things that you don't and can help you improve your game. All of these things create 'ease.' Although the game of golf is still difficult - there will always be strategy, competition and obstacles, doing what you can to create more 'ease' makes the game more enjoyable, and leaves you hungry for more.
So consider your practice - would you say you're playing with 'ease?' Here are just five of the many areas involved in managing your practice (in no particular order). Are they creating 'ease,' or are they getting in the way of your practice and your enjoyment of your practice?
1. Time - Are you comfortable with the way your day is structured, or are you constantly struggling to keep up? Are there 'important, but not urgent' items that are always on your to-do list, but never seem to get done? Are you spending your (valuable, billable) time on tasks that could be performed by someone else in your office (or outsourced) so that you could spend time on higher value tasks?
2. Paper - Can you find what you need, when you need it, or are you forever digging through piles of papers or sifting through huge files filled with unnecessary documents, but can never find the crucial item when the client is on the phone or there's a deadline to be met?
3. Billing - Do you struggle to send your bills to your clients in a timely manner? Do you have a system to automatically follow up with clients who are overdue on their payments, or do you contact overdue accounts only when you 'get around to it?' Are those outstanding receivables getting in the way of your cash flow?
4. Planning - Do you know where your practice is headed, and do you have a plan for how you're going to get there, or are you running your practice by default - taking whatever cases or clients happen to come in the door? Do you have a plan for your marketing - clients or types of matters that you would prefer, a strategy for how you'll get there? Are your business and marketing plans written down so that you can refer to them and keep yourself and your practice on track? Do you have a method of keeping yourself accountable for following through with these plans?
5. Communication - Are you communicating effectively - with clients, opposing counsel, staff, potential clients and other contacts? Does your entire firm know the mission of the firm and the direction you intend to take the firm? Does your communication - both written and verbal - bring you the results you're looking for?
Does your practice leave you hungry for more? Are you inspired to go to work every day? Can you add more ease to your practice?
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