Managing The Professional Service Firm


Book Description

Professional service firms differ from other business enterprises in two distinct ways: first they provide highly customised services thus cannot apply many of the management principles developed for product-based industries. Second, professional services are highly personalised, involving the skills of individuals. Such firms must therefore compete not only for clients but also for talented professionals. Drawing on more than ten years of research and consulting to these unique and creative companies, David Maister explores issues ranging from marketing and business development to multinational strategies, human resources policies to profit improvement, strategic planning to effective leadership. While these issues can be complex, Maister simplifies them by recognising that 'every professional service firm in the world, regardless of size, specific profession, or country of operation, has the same mission statement: outstanding service to clients, satisfying careers for its people and financial success for its owners.'




It's That Simple: How to Build the Professional Service Firm of the Future


Book Description

It's That Simple Are you a service professional committed to positively impacting your clients' and employees' lives? While there are many talented lawyers, doctors, accountants, and wealth managers out there, all too often these service professionals are not skilled businesspeople. Larry Miles wants to change that. It's That Simple offers an array of actionable ideas and strategies geared to building the professional service firm of the future. Miles examines the following: - How service businesses miss the opportunity to offer an exceptional experience for customers and employees - The keys to recruiting, building, and sustaining a championship team - The critical impact of a shared mission - The importance of attracting great clients--and how to do it - How to leverage new technology and why you must start now - How to build enterprise value Service professionals are in the business of helping others. With its easy-to-follow wisdom and insight, It's That Simple helps these professionals become true business leaders. "When building a championship team with the Rockets, we used many of the same principles Larry outlines in It's That Simple. In the NBA, as in professional services, you've got to purposefully build your team and your culture in order to contend for the title. Larry's concepts and techniques are action-oriented and undeniably applicable." - Leslie Alexander, former owner of the Houston Rockets - "Amidst the ocean of 'the best' business books, It's That Simple stands out for its perfect blend of guidance across business fundamentals and management. Larry's humble and relatable style belies his methodical approach to providing the reader with a clear roadmap to value creation and business greatness." - Eric N. Marton, former executive director, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - Larry Miles is an award-winning principal with AdvicePeriod, whose team's mission is to reinvent wealth management. He was named Innovator of the Year by WealthManagement.com in 2018 and was included in InvestmentNews' "40 Under 40" list in 2017. His teams have been recognized in Inc. magazine's "Best Workplaces" and the Los Angeles Business Journal's "#1 Best Place to Work in Los Angeles." Larry also served as the youngest regional president of BNY Mellon Wealth Management and helped build and sell a national advisory firm. Larry, who graduated from Amherst College and has a master's degree from the London School of Economics, has taught leadership courses at MIT and belongs to the Young Presidents' Organization. He and his wife, Dani, live in Park City, Utah. To learn more, visit adviceperiod.com.




Just Start


Book Description

Outlines a path to success based on creativity and problem solving despite the changing economic clmate and future uncertainty.




Implementing Value Pricing


Book Description

Praise for IMPLEMENTING VALUE PRICING A Radical Business Model for Professional Firms "Ron Baker is the most prolific and best writer when it comes to pricing services. This is a must-read for executives and partners in small to large firms. Ron provides the basics, the advanced ideas, the workbooks, the case studies everything. This is a must-have and a terrific book." Reed K. Holden founder and CEO, Holden Advisors, Corp., Associate Professor, Columbia University www.holdenadvisors.com "We've known through Ron Baker's earlier books that he's not just an extraordinary thinker and truly brilliant writer he's a mover and a shaker on a mission. This is the End of Time! Brilliant." Paul Dunn Chairman, B1G1® www.b1g1.com "Implementing Value Pricing is a powerful blend of theory, strategy, and tactics. Ron Baker's most recent offering is ambitious in scope, exploring topics that include economic theory, customer orientation, value identification, service positioning, and pricing strategy. He weaves all of them together seamlessly, and includes numerous examples to illustrate his primary points. I have applied the knowledge I've gained from his body of work, and the benefits to me and to my customers have been immediate, significant, and ongoing." Brent Uren Principal, Valuation & Business Modeling Ernst & Young® www.ey.com "Ron Baker is a revolutionary. He is on a radical crusade to align the interests of service providers with those of their customers by having lawyers, accountants, and consultants charge based on the value they provide, rather than the effort it takes. Implementing Value Pricing is a manifesto that establishes a clear case for the revolution. It provides detailed guidance that includes not only strategies and tactics, but key predictive indicators for success. It is richly illustrated by the successes of firms that have embraced value-based pricing to make their services not only more cost-effective for their customers, but more profitable as well. The hallmark of a manifesto is an unyielding sense of purpose and a call to action. Let the revolution begin." Robert G. Cross, Chairman and CEO, Revenue Analytics, Inc. Author, Revenue Management: Hard-Core Tactics for Market Domination




Marketing the Professional Services Firm


Book Description

Professional services are estimated to be worth up to $700 billion worldwide, but as the market matures there is an urgent need for new marketing thinking for global players or small businesses alike. This book applies the core principles of strategic marketing to professional services for the first time, in an approach that is at once accessible and compelling. With case studies from a range of companies including J. Walter Thompson, market research companies, the ?big four? accounting firms, Headhunters, Interbrand and large US legal firms, it is intended to become the definitive book for effective strategic marketing in professional services.




Fast/Forward


Book Description

A guide to the adhocracy form of business management and how it can foster a company’s success. The leading companies of the past twenty years have all harnessed the power of information to gain competitive advantage. But as access to big data becomes ubiquitous, it can no longer guarantee a leg up. Fast/Forward makes the case that we are entering a new era in which firms that understand the limits of 1s and 0s will take the lead. Whereas the industrial age saw the rise of bureaucracy, and the information age has been described as a meritocracy, we are witnessing the rise of adhocracy. In uncertain, rapidly-changing times, adhocracic organizations scan the horizon for winning opportunities. Then, instead of questing after more analysis, they respond with agility by making smart, intuitive decisions. Combining decisive action with emotional conviction, future-facing firms seize the day. Fast/Forward paints the big picture of a new approach to strategy and provides the necessary playbook to make your company fit for the future. Praise for Fast/Forward “Fast/Forward makes a compelling case for spontaneity, speed, and a willingness to lead with intuition. More importantly, it speaks to the leadership qualities required to implement its suggestions—providing practical ways to cultivate to those qualities.” —Jeffrey Pfeffer, Stanford University, author of Power: Why Some People Have It—and Others Don’t “[Birkinshaw and Ridderstråle] are on the right track: In an ever-faster, globalized world, companies not only need a compelling strategy, but also an adaptive and caring performance culture. To unleash their full ingenuity, we have to empower our colleagues to act like owners.” —Joe Kaeser, President and CEO, Siemens AG “Big data is oversold as the most important facet of competitive advantage. Rather, breakthrough leaps of faith are necessary to achieve extraordinary results. Fast-Forward is full of practical advice about how to capitalize on this simple idea in order to forge your corporate future.” —Anita McGahan, Rotman School of Management, author of How Industries Evolve




Reinventing Professional Services


Book Description

How engaging technology and relationships can help you stand out, attract business and achieve a more dynamic professional life The technological landscape has reshaped the way white collar workers cultivate and promote their businesses. The Transformation of Professional Services is an engaging look at how licensed experts are adapting to today's dynamic economic environment. From Ari Kaplan—a recognized advisor on business and career development— Reinventing Professional Services: Building Your Business in the Digital Marketplaceoffers insights on taking advantage of enterprising techniques to stand out and position one's self as an insightful chameleon rather than as an isolated purveyor of facts and figures. Details the importance of offering resources instead of simply selling Reveals strategies for increasing one's searchability and distinguishing one's self in an economic downturn or recovery Offers advice readers can immediately use to strengthen client relationships Written in a straightforward and accessible style, this book provides engaging guidance for anyone in the professional services field—from business consultants, financial advisers, and lawyers to accountants, real estate brokers, and appraisers.




Summary of David H. Maister's Managing The Professional Service Firm


Book Description

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The mission of every professional service firm is to deliver outstanding client service, provide fulfilling careers and professional satisfaction for their employees, and achieve financial success so that they can reward themselves and grow. #2 The required shape of the organization is primarily determined by the skill requirements of its work. For Brains projects, which involve highly skilled and highly paid professionals, the opportunities to leverage the top professionals with juniors are limited. #3 The three categories of project types are those that involve the highest proportion of junior time, those that involve the highest proportion of senior time, and those that involve both junior and senior time. The choice of project types is one of the most important variables available to balance the firm. #4 The archetypal structure of the professional service firm is an organization containing three professional levels. In a consulting organization, these levels might be labeled junior consultant, manager, and vice president. In a CPA firm, they might be referred to as staff, manager, and partner.




Executive Engagement Strategies


Book Description

Win the attention of high-level decision makers in large corporations; spark their interest and earn their trust to achieve long-term, sustainable mutual value. When it comes to buying and selling complex, high value products and services, people buy from people. Big businesses and public sector organizations rely on solutions to keep their essential services running - things like payroll, IT, property maintenance and communications technology. For the companies that provide those services, winning the business can mean huge, multi-year, multi-million contracts. Executive Engagement Strategies is a comprehensive guide to engaging with the senior professionals making the buying decisions - to win sustainable, long-lasting business. It provides an easy-to-follow guide that will help professionals interact at each step of the B2B buying process using a combination of people, messages and communication channels. Highly practical, Executive Engagement Strategies provides a clear, step-by-step process to capture the attention of busy c-suite executives, and keep them engaged and motivated throughout the lengthy buying process. Filled with global case studies and examples, it will help readers know what to say, and when and how to say it, to build trust and win the business. With key takeaways at the end of each chapter and clearly actionable guidelines and instructions, it is the only resource you'll need to build truly customer-centric engagement with core decision makers.




The Small Firm Roadmap


Book Description

Let's be honest, traditional small firm law practice is not working very well. Too many small firm lawyers struggle to make ends meet, get clients, meet clients' expectations, or they wrestle with mental health issues or substance abuse. Meanwhile, there is a huge gap between those who need legal help and those who can get it. But it doesn't have to be that way. We can build better firms, be more effective with our clients, enjoy better health and a greater sense of fulfillment, and make a bigger impact on our communities. With the client-centric law firm management model in The Small Firm Roadmap, you'll see that getting started is easier than you think. The team from Lawyerist.com-Aaron Street, Sam Glover, Stephanie Everett, and Marshall Lichty-will help you gain clarity around your career and firm goals and identify successful strategies for starting, managing, and growing a thriving future-oriented law firm. If you're ready to do great work that supports a great life, this book is for you.