The Change Implementation Series
I know just how hard it is knowing where to begin on your change journey, so I’ve written this series around the six starting points that I use to make implementation easier for my clients. Couple of weeks ago I introduced the series in TA75 – The Kick-start Change Implementation Plan. This article is part 4 of a 7 part series on kick-starting your own change implementation plan.
Part 3: The Top Four Strategies for creating the focus needed to create your Premium Practice
One of the fastest ways I know to get focused on what is important* is to clear your desk of inessential activities.
*Need help working out what are the most important activities should be in your day?
That’s just one of the steps I work on with clients. Click to find out how I can help you.
This can be as simple as literally tidying your desk or office, but also includes the activities that keep you busy throughout the day.
I’ve used the four strategies below to clear my day of inessential activities so I can focus on higher yield.
Top Four Strategies for creating the focus needed to create your Premium Practice
While there are many ways for you to improve your focus, I’ve found that these are the most effective for Accounting Partners.
1. Stop delegating and start systemising
- Delegating without a system just results in the activity bouncing back to you as a question or an error. The problem is that you haven’t effectively removed yourself from the process. Creating and implementing a system to control the delegation means that the task and goal is clear, minimising rebounds to the partner.
2. Ask questions instead of giving answers
- Instead of answering every question directed at you by the team, try asking questions that prompt them to find a solution themselves. Open door policies often lead to major bottlenecks around partner. The team get used to asking partners or principals about everything, and stop thinking for themselves.
- By asking questions instead of automatically giving answers, Partners are encouraging team members to seek solutions themselves. Thus creating thinkers and solution providers who are self-sufficient and proactive assets to the firm.
3. Diary block the big rock first
- Focus on filling your day with activities that will create a business that operates without you. Then prioritise these activities over other day-to-day like client work and admin tasks.
- Prioritise tasks in the following order, where the top three should be your main focus:
- Strategic implementation time,
- Team training, and
- System development/improvement.
- Then… Client work,
- Admin, and
- Other.
4. Use achievable targets to ensure progress
- The first aim of this process is to buy back one day a week.
- This is 20% of your daily activities. You should aim to buy back one day of your week within 180 days, giving you two cycles to perfect this transition.
- Maintaining progress towards achievable targets helps you stay focused
Client Example – Mike removed himself as a bottleneck…
The Problem
For last 9 months a firm has been unsuccessfully attempting to roll out packages and products as well as trying to free the principal up for strategic work. Not much has moved because the principal is too busy working on clients and doing client projects. Plus, he was finding it hard to get out of the way and truly pass responsibility to the pseudo partner (who was his Manager – see TA strategic org chart).
The Solution
- We sacked the Principal from compliance and reemployed him as the VAS manager. The decision was to remove him from the compliance practice and hand over the reins to the manager.
- Immediately, without the principal in the room, the manager and two key people were able to design a vision, a plan and create milestones for how the compliance practice was going to work.
- Getting the principal back in the room they presented this vision and plan, and answered all of the principal’s questions. He then signed off on the plan.
Ongoing results
- Compliance was flowing, and getting completed
- The team are motivated and driven, they are stepping up and taking responsibility
- The principal has realigned his diary. He’s now working on systemising the value add services as well as mentoring the pseudo manager on the compliance side.
- The firm is meeting deadlines and growing in fees (all at profitable margins) as VAS is bringing in higher hourly rates
Fast results (within 90 days)
- The principal got out of the way, and focused on high level work that inspired him.
- The team stepped up, and took control.
- Revenue grew, instantly
- Profitability began flowing
A Six Step Series on Implementing Your Plan for Change
This series addresses how to confidently begin implementing your change growth plan.
- Five ways to say ‘No’ that will free up time to do higher end work and increase your profitability
- Build confidence to implement by getting clear on what you really want
- Three ways to declutter your mind and clear your desk for maximum focus
- Lead with confidence by leveraging existing knowledge
- How to get early wins by uncovering opportunities within your existing client base
- Four ways to gain and build strong momentum
Next week we continue with “4. Leverage your Existing Knowledge to Maximum Advantage”.
This includes:
- Five big mistakes firms make when they try to change
- How each mistake hinders growth and causes other issues
- Insights from real firms – how they corrected, and profited from doing so.
- An opportunity to address each mistake, and more!
As always, if there is a specific barrier holding up your firm’s implementation or you want help building your confidence to implement your plans, you’re welcome to comment below or book a time using the link below the comment box.
Andrew Robertson | TwentySix Group