Category: Management and Business
What really needs to go into your business case for partnership?
How many times have I been asked if I can share a sample business case for partnership? When you are asked to submit one, it’s understandable if you over do it initially. It’s such an important document – where to start? . . . must make sure you include every little piece of evidence . . . and the stack […]
What data does your business case for partnership need?
A great business case is full of data which can be verified and validated. In this blog post I will show you exactly what data your business case requires.
What is your evidence of being able to win business?
Some Magic Circle and Big 4 firms don’t expect you to have a partner-sized portfolio before making partner, but they do expect you […]
Writing your business case for partner – can it really be done in a weekend?
Although you’ve had your eye on partnership for years, sometimes it happens that when the opportunity arises, you are not ready. More than one of our clients – Big 4 included – have had a request for a partnership business plan sprung on them at short notice. There is no need to worry – in this article, I give you […]
Mistakes consultants make in their business case for partnership
Many of my clients are consultants, and thus I see a lot of business cases for partnership in the Big 4 firms as well as the large consultancy firms. I have noticed that the same mistakes are repeated, but they are so easy to fix. In this article, I share what these common mistakes are, and how you can avoid them […]
Factoring in the climate change clout on business
By Rob Starr, Big4.com Content Manager
Regardless of which side of the fence you’re on, there’s no denying climate change is having an effect on the way business does business. Consider recent reports that have all-important Atlantic Ocean currents collapsing in the future or the Washington Post piece on the fact a crack in the Antarctic ice shelf just grew by […]
The 3 main types of Partner in a Big 4 firm
When you play to your strengths you become much more successful. Typically there are three different types of partner. When you know your key strengths you can work towards becoming the right type of partner for your talents and strengths. In this blog post Heather Townsend shares an exclusive extract from the 2nd edition of ‘How to make partner […]
The pros and cons of becoming a career manager in a Big 4 firm
Can you have a meaningful career in a Big 4 firm as a fee earner without wanting to make partner? In this blog post Heather Townsend shares an exclusive extract from the 2nd edition of ‘How to make partner and still have a life’ (Click here for a free sample chapter) and explores the positives and negatives of […]
10 reasons to seriously consider changing firms if you want to make partner quickly at a Big 4 firm
While everyone’s route to partner in a Big 4 is different, there are four main routes to making partner. In this blog post Heather Townsend shares an exclusive extract from the 2nd edition of ‘How to make partner and still have a life’ (Click here for a free sample chapter) and explores why you should consider one of […]
Why you now need both sponsors AND an influential firm mentor to rapidly progress your career in a Big 4 firm
Accepted wisdom used to be that you only needed an influential firm mentor to rapidly progress your career in the Big 4. In this blog post Heather Townsend shares an exclusive extract from the 2nd edition of ‘How to make partner and still have a life’ (Click here for a free sample chapter) and shines a light on […]
The 6 premises for every business case for partnership
In this blog post Heather Townsend shares an exclusive extract from the 2nd edition of ‘How to make partner and still have a life’ (Click here for a free sample chapter) and explains the 3 step process to building a cast-iron business case as well as the six premises that every business case is based on.
Creating a cast-iron […]
5 simple ways to stay in touch with your clients until they are ready to buy
You do the work and generate a warm hot lead. It was all going so well until the client stalled. In this blog post Heather Townsend shares an exclusive extract from the 2nd edition of ‘How to make partner and still have a life’ (Click here for a free sample chapter) and details why your clients may stall […]
How to keep yourself constructively busy and motivated when work is light
Long hours in a Big 4 and other large firms are often seen as the norm. But what happens if you find yourself on the bench and scratching around for something to do. In this blog post Heather Townsend shares an exclusive extract from the 2nd edition of ‘How to make partner and still have a life’ (Click […]
What is typically expected of me when I qualify in a Big 4 firm?
In this blog post Heather Townsend shares an exclusive extract from the 2nd edition of ‘How to make partner and still have a life’ (Click here for a free sample chapter) to show what is typically expected from you when you qualify in a Big 4 firm.
In chapter 14 of ‘How to make partner and still have […]
6 ways in which what clients (really) want has changed
Many years ago, I gave a conference speech on client service. The audience was full of accountants and lawyers, and as part of my preparation, I had asked some of their clients how they would define great service.
The replies were not surprising:
being accessible and responsive
being proactive and taking the initiative
giving value for money
initiating timely conversations – particularly around fees
being personable […]
How to build rapport with a prospect during the sales process
Rapport is a key ingredient to succeeding in making a sale. It’s not something you can force, but it certainly can be nurtured. In this article, I explain how you can develop rapport with potential clients.
To start with: What is rapport?
You are ‘in rapport’ with someone when the relationship between you is harmonious and understanding. It starts to develop when […]