July 3, 2006
Managing Partners Have Difficulty Exercising Power
Most managing partners in midsized law firms have a difficult time exercising authority. They lead, but not everyone follows. Then what? To be an effective manager/leader, you must hold a seven-card suit. The seven cards (sources of the ability to lead) are: experience, authority, ability to reward, ability to punish, charisma, systems and goals.
There is the problem. Most managing partners do not hold all seven cards. They can influence. They can mediate. They do contribute in spite of the limits on their authority. But, unless the partners have dealt the managing partner a full hand that includes all seven cards, they will not hold the mantel of leadership.
The good news is that managing partners, even with limited authority, make the law firm better as a business. The bad news is that the law firm partners could do better if they would deal the full seven-card hand to their managing partner.
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Filed under Management by Tom Collins