It is a given that it can be very frustrating and disappointing not to win, whether your effort is on winning a proposal for new business, court case, leadership position, or any other goal you set to achieve. To win and experience are deeply entwined. You do not lose by not winning.

In a necessary and long overdue need to right the balance of power and decency, a daily spotlight has been shone on the integrity of organizations, both public and private and that of individuals, regardless of celebrity status. As it should. You always want to promote a culture of integrity at your firm, full stop.

A law firm alliance is a collaborative innovation that has varying levels of intimacy, exclusivity, and binding allegiances. If your firm is looking to service a client in a jurisdiction where you do not have an office, and may need counsel on a regular basis but not so frequently or critically that you would merge with a local firm, consider joining an alliance. An alliance is a viable option for building relationships with other counsel and sharing referrals without having to jump into a formal arrangement that could prove too costly, binding or, simply, unnecessary.

Happy new year! And what better time than the new year to commit to investing in your associates. Your associates are fundamental to the success of your law firm. They should always be top of mind and have access to and gain benefits from your firm’s support and guidance. A key mainstay in running a prosperous business is to build trust with your clients through the service your firm provides. This trust is assisted by developing and leveraging your associates.

Too frequently, you are reactive in your tendencies when dealing with complicated matters and rectifying situations. Your adrenalin rush to right your wrong has you acting in ways that may not be conducive to achieving your best results. A speedy resolution is not the outcome you want. The right solution is and should always be your goal. Slow down your impulses to hammer out an instant remedy. Instead, apply a slow fix.

You will proactively increase your market footprint and achieve bigger and more targeted returns on investment when you actively control your practice and visibility and determine what work you want to do and with whom. Bottom line, you increase your footprint by having a strong personal brand and an effective web presence. Test your marketability by Googling yourself on a regular basis.

When you focus on your lawyers’ time sheets, you will mine gold: the data that stokes the engine of your firm’s profitability. When you mine your gold, you can predict productivity market and activity trends. You can review quality and quantity of hours. You can gauge the variety, complexity, timing and nature of assignments.

It is time for you and your firm to endorse multi-track career options at your firm. This is not a second-tier program being put into place for second-class lawyers. In fact, a strategic and effective system will enable all your lawyers to excel. Some lawyers may opt straight out for specific career paths while others, through discussions and mentoring, will align themselves to paths deemed best for their career progression.

To stay competitive, you really want to know your market. To determine how well you know the legal area and practice within which you are a successful member, take your market challenge. Describe succinctly in no more than four words the type of law you practise.

To succeed as a leader, you need to give and take: give foundational support when you delegate to others and, when you act on critical feedback, take next steps to be perceived the way you want to be seen. Why do you sometimes struggle with these key skills?