Similar themes run through many aspects of life...
A common refrain I hear from lawyers in small and medium-sized practices is that while they personally are very busy, and their employees all seem to fluctuate from busy to very busy, liquidity is tight.
Any cash reserves are dwindling fast, or the overdraft facility is yet again looking more like a fully-drawn loan. Drawings are meagre at best.
Stress levels are definitely way beyond comfortable, even useful, stress.
Essentially the enquirers I get in that category, wanting to have a chat about how I can help, range from being mystified, to disappointed, and even angry.
They have conceded to themselves that “something” must be wrong, but haven’t been able to determine just what it is, and have therefore not had any basis to formulate a useful plan of attack.
In my interest of dressage riding we have a well-known term for what is needed to identify where things aren’t quite right, so a decent plan can be set up to fix the biggest problems first...the ones that really matter right now, and will be essential building blocks into the long-term future.
We need really experienced “Eyes on the ground”.
It’s not a question of whether we should ever have arrived at the situation where we can’t figure out for ourselves what is wrong and rectify it. No blame needs to be assumed or assigned.
The really is we have, that’s where we’re at, and trying to sort it ourselves has, for whatever reason, not worked.
We need some experienced help to watch what we, the horse and I, are doing, and suggest where either or both of us need to make adjustments.
The exciting thing about dressage riding, and legal practise, is that what the owner of the experienced “eyes on the ground” will suggest you do is never rocket science, and can be implemented relatively easily for vastly improved results.
The feeling you get from turning each corner and feeling the change in the horse is enervating.
Very seldom do you actually need a completely new horse (although many an owner has been told they do by well-meaning friends and those so-called experts who really aren't).
Someone immersed in the problem who is busy and stressed will be best at recognising there has to be a problem with the way things are being done, and far from the best at knowing what needs to change and how to go about it.
The first step is to chat with someone demonstrably experienced, not to get your answers, but to identify that you would be comfortable working with them, and confident that they will be able to provide common sense, workable, solutions for your particular circumstances.
Reviewing testimonials and talking with current and former clients of the practice coach, or dressage coach, will help crystallise your confidence.
If parts of your firm are not yet firing on all cylinders post the massive disruption of the pandemic, it may well be the right time for your “Eyes on the ground”.
