Turning Stalled Out Goals into Actions

Are you struggling with…

• Unproductive meetings that lack focus or purpose?
• Projects that get pushed off or stall out indefinitely?
• Lack of clarity on success indicators for your practice?
• Not achieving your financial goals?
• Everyone’s time and energy focused on non-important/urgent fires vs. more profitable activities?
• Lukewarm team engagement due to communication breakdowns, lack of direction, or avoiding difficult conversations?

You’re not alone. Getting your arms wrapped around these areas can be a daunting effort for any business, not to mention doing it while still providing a world-class experience for your clients.

The Academy has a wealth of tools and resources available to help firms clarify and create action plans around these areas, as well as provide valuable training for the entire team. For those looking into Academy Membership, we also offer a number of resources to help get you started:

• The E-Myth Attorney book by Michael Gerber, Robert Armstrong and Sanford M. Fisch
• Strategic Planning Form and Review call
• Financial Benchmarks report  
• 11 Essential Systems Boot Camp

About three years ago, we decided to take our implementation and communication up a notch and we adopted the Entrepreneurial Operating System™ (EOS). It is based off the book Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman. EOS has transformed the way we operate at the Academy for the better. We love it so much that we encourage our Peak Performers Program participants to implement it as well.

Here’s how it works… 

The implementation process kicks off with a Focus Day, which identifies responsibilities/roles, key things that need to be accomplished, and measures for success. Then there are two Vision Building days that help you identify or refine your core values, focus, target market, and key future bound targets. You’ll also walk through an exercise that will help you determine if you have the right people in the right seats.

After the Focus Day, you’ll start weekly meetings to review the status of priorities and issues and include the following:

• Team Updates – Personal and professional positives that are happening in each person’s life
• Scorecard/Measurables – Tracks key success indicators that the firm should be hitting – if off track, review in the Issues segment
• Quarterly Goals (“Rocks”) – Review what’s on track and off-track
• Client or Firm Updates – Information everyone should know, urgent matters to address
• Open Items & To-Do’s – Review what’s been completed since the last meeting and what’s still open with clear deadlines
• Issues Discussion – Issues, ideas, systems clarification, and/or brainstorming is covered – everyone participates, no wallflowers allowed!

We also use web-based software that is designed to capture the updates, decisions made, and next steps with to-dos and deadlines. Each week we review the uncompleted to-do’s and goals to keep them top of mind.

It sounds like a lot of work, is it worth it?

Absolutely! Implementing this type of well-rounded meeting system for communicating and tracking open items has been a game changer for us and our Member firms. In our experience, it has without a doubt brought more clarity and focus to our entire team.

• Clarity on vision, mission, and values
• Clarity on roles and responsibilities
• Clarity on annual, quarterly, monthly and weekly goals
• More intentional planning of priorities and projects that allow teams to get more done
• Creates a place to capture ideas and determine if and when to execute them

What areas do you and your team struggle with the most? Need a sounding board to gain clarity or create an implementation plan? We’ve got you covered. Email your PBC to discuss on your next coaching call or if you’re not a Member yet, email info@aaepa.com to schedule a personal planning call.

Susan Russel
Practice Building Coach
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (858) 453-2128
www.aaepa.com