You know the feeling. You come to the office and get stuck into your \u201cTo Do\u201d list. You focus on addressing those day-to-day business issues – but lurking in the corner like a bad smell are those things that you know that you need to do but you just can\u2019t bring yourself to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s that staff member who is just not performing because perhaps they\u2019re too lazy or just don\u2019t get it. Your excuse is that it\u2019s hard to find staff and the employment laws are so onerous that maybe keeping the person is better than going through the angst of removing them. But is that true? Are you sure? Could the main reason be that you just don\u2019t want the tough discussion, you don\u2019t want to tell them that they have to go? It\u2019s ten times worse if that person is a partner!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s that client who is a right pain in the\u2026 The client who is so demanding, never pays their fees on time, complains about the bill, and is hopeless at providing accurate and complete information on a timely basis. The client who should be told to shape up or ship out. Every firm has them and yet few do anything about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As an external adviser, these hard decisions seem quite obvious. Part of my role is to make you uncomfortable so that you will no longer accept this situation so that you will act. Prodding you in the right place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The great observation is that I rarely see anyone who regrets the hard decision. Making it, acting on it, and doing what you might have to do might be painful for all involved but it\u2019s like a surgeon removing a cancer, the host may be temporarily weakened but will grow and thrive by being unburdened by the issue that has been nagging you – sometimes for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So perhaps it\u2019s time for a New Year\u2019s resolution or two. Undertake a search for these bad smells\/elephants in the room – they won\u2019t be hard to find – you know where they are. Decide that by the end of January you will act. What a way to start the new year – unburdened and energised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nDavid Smith<\/a>\u00a0conducts firm reviews and facilitates the development of strategic plans and business plans. Contact David at\u00a0david.smith@smithink.com<\/a>\u00a0to explore how he may be able to help your firm.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
You know the feeling. You come to the office and get stuck into your \u201cTo Do\u201d list. You focus on addressing those day-to-day business issues – but lurking in the corner like a bad smell are those things that you know that you need to do but you just can\u2019t bring yourself to do it.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":460,"featured_media":11647,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[41,48],"yoast_head":"\n
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