I’ve had a few implementation calls with a team that is 100% committed to reaching their revenue goal. They’ve got all they need in their pipeline, marketing is producing leads, workshops are getting filled, production is keeping up as much as possible with the growth, etc. They have such determination to reach goal that it’s been inspiring to participate in their conversations, anchor them to the LWP tools and support them.
At this point, the key to their success lies in creating and committing to the old 40-40-20 time split. You know, the “40% lead generation/lead conversion, 40% revenue-producing activity, 20% firm development” ratio. The hardest part is the reality of making it happen AND holding each other accountable that they are doing what they committed to on their time template. So, to make sure they were on the same page, communicating and setting standards and ensuring that their intentions were set in stone, they created their firm's “Rules of Engagement.”
This had such an impact on the team that they decided to take their rules a step further. When talking together and planning for the upcoming vacation for the attorney, the team created some “Rules of Vacation” to make sure he took some much-needed time away without having to worry about the office during his absence.
What’s great about it is they had fun, but they also set standards for what will and will not take place on vacation. They gave permission to check in with the office, but only at certain times and for specific reasons, and that leads to boundaries and standards. The rules also make certain that he is present with his family during the time away. My favorites are #’s 7 & 8:
ATTORNEY RULES OF VACATION
- Vacation means vacation – trust your team – you have the right people in the right places – they have your back when you are in the office at all times – they will have your back when you are out of the office at all times!!!
- Vacation begins at 5:01 P.M. on ________, 2014. Your spouse has permission to call at 5:02 P.M. to make sure you are on your way home. You have permission to work until 9:00 P.M. on the day prior to your vacation starting, if you choose, in order to “clear the decks.”
- Attorney may not call the office unless it is in response to a 911 text, email or voicemail from the team.
- Attorney may check and respond to emails at assigned times approved by spouse once in the morning and once in the evening so that they don’t have anxiety about it throughout the day.
- Attorney MUST at all times be on vacation.A
- ttorney MUST at all times have fun.
- Attorney MUST at all times be present to the family.
- The family MUST make attorney put on either Mickey Mouse ears or a princess crown and send that picture to the team for future blackmail and accountability purposes.
- Attorney MUST tell himself or herself every day that this vacation will not be a repeat of any dreaded prior vacations and remember what a great workplace we have created to permit such a vacation.
- Attorney MUST not call the office 100 times a day!
- The family MUST hold attorney accountable for any deviation from items 1 through 10 and attorney MUST be willing to accept and suffer the consequences for breaking any of the rules. (The team suggests letting the grandchildren make grandpa into their favorite princess, including putting on make-up, and sending those pictures to the team to provide ample incentive to obey rules 1 to 9.)
- Attorney MUST get the initials of family members as proof that they went over the Rules of Vacation together and had fun doing it.
I, _________________, acknowledge that I have read and understand the above Rules of Vacation.
Attorney signature ______________________________
I know we are winding down vacation season and headed back to school and then quickly into the holidays. But grab onto these rules and make them your own and empower your team to communicate so you can power down on that next get away – whenever it is!
If you want to learn more about Lawyers With Purpose and how we can help you take your next vacation AND generate revenue, join us October 20-22nd in Phoenix, AZ, for our Practice With Purpose Program. Click here to register today! Seats are filling fast and October is right around the corner so grab your seat now. If you're a member and would like to come to the Practice With Purpose Program, please contact Angela directly at acrowther@lawyerswithpurpose.com.
Roslyn Drotar – Coaching, Consulting & Implementation, Lawyers With Purpose
