Your Systems Are Your Signature

What usually happens when an employee gives you their two weeks’ notice? If your firm is like a lot of others, by the time you find someone to replace your departing employee, there are only a few days left. The rush is on for the departing employee to impart years of information to the new hire, and the results usually aren’t very good. There’s no real consistency. You suffer, your employees suffer, and, worst of all, your clients suffer.

If your firm is to be your unique creation, it has to have a unique way of doing things – one that sets it apart from all the other estate planning law firms in town. This is one area where so many law firms are lacking, and systems are the key to fixing the problem.

Having systems in every area of your practice is central to your success. A system is really a roadmap that lets your employees know how your firm does things. So, what kinds of systems do you need, and what do you use them for?

Simply put, if you do something more than once, you should have a written system in place for it. You take every single area of your practice, break it down into its component tasks, and spell out the specific way it is done in your firm. Not only does this ensure that your clients are served consistently and effectively, it also ensures that your firm’s unique personality is injected into every client interaction.

Putting systems in place – and using them effectively – benefits you, your employees, and your clients. It ensures that your employees are clear on your expectations, and it gives them the chance to meet and exceed those expectations. It allows your clients to get to know the stellar experience they can expect every time they interact with someone from your firm. And it allows you to be confident in the work your firm produces, the office environment you’re cultivating, and the reputation you’re creating in your community.

Robert Armstrong
President & Co-Founder
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (800) 846-1555
www.aaepa.com