Can I inspire your firm to start a client development coaching program? Even though I would enjoy working with your lawyers, I am not talking about starting a program with me as the coach. I simply want to inspire you to start a client development coaching program.
As you likely know, when I was busy practicing law, I started a client development coaching program at my law firm, and enjoyed the experience so much that I left my law practice to do it full time. You can start a program in your firm.
So, what made me think of this idea? I recently read Seth Godin’s blog: 1,000 Bands. He begins:
Brian Eno possibly said that, “the first Velvet Underground record may have only sold 1,000 copies, but every person who bought it started a band.”
I have not given 1000 presentations on client development coaching. But, I have given many at Bar meetings, Legal Marketing Association meetings and at law firm retreats and meetings. I hope that every firm who attended or attends my presentation on coaching, will actually start one.
The firm leaders and lawyers I have coached would share with you that some of the positive things to flow from the client development coaching program have included:
- Increased firm revenue (I am sure the leaders would start with that one).
- Change in the firm’s client development culture.
- Lawyers working as teams on client development.
- Cross-Selling among lawyers.
- Lawyers preparing a business plan that actually works rather than one the firm requires.
- Lawyers seeing opportunities they previously missed.
- Lawyers being more strategic and more focused in their efforts.
- Lawyers more effectively using their strengths.
- Lawyers gaining self-confidence.
- Lawyers actually enjoying client development.
Look at the end of Seth Godin’s post. He writes:
How many bands will you inspire today?
I guess I will wonder how many firms will I inspire today? If I inspired your firm to at least think about it, take a look at my eBook on Client Development Coaching.
And I will ask you:
How many of your lawyers will you inspire in 2014 to take their practice to the next level?