chelsey lambert - building culture in the workplace
DESCRIPTION
The kind of culture in your firm is reflected in both your employees’ work environment and in your clients’ experience. Learn more about building an office that they (and you) will enjoy coming in to, day after day.TRANSCRIPT
Clio Cloud Conference 2014
SEPTEMBER 22 – 23, 2014 · CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Clio Cloud Conference 2014 #ClioCloud9
Building Culture in the Workplace
Unlocking Your Law Firm’s Culture Code
by Chelsey Lambert
@ChelseyLambert
@SmokeballNews
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Company Culture (What we think it means.)
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What Culture Really Means
• Who you are.
• What you believe in.
• Why you started your business.
• Cultivating happiness for your
employees, clients and yourself.
Your brand is your culture.
– Tony Hsieh
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Every interaction is a direct reflection of
your company culture.
CLIENTS
EMPLOYEES
PARTNERS
REFERRALS
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How Culture Applies to Your Law Practice
• Employees understand why clients need your services.
• Each can articulate the reason behind your business.
• All are motivated to help everyone involved succeed.
• Everyone sees value in coming to work.
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Culture begins with
Leadership
• Team Stages
• Employee Empowerment
• Mission Statement & Core Values
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Core Values &
Mission Statement
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Your Mission Statement
• Why does your business exist?
• Who do you serve? (Your niche)
• Where are your clients?
• What service(s) do you provide?
• How do core values guide your
team?
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Famous Mission Statements
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Smokeball Mission & Values
Mission Statement / Purpose
• We change the lives of small law firm owners for the better
Core Values
• 1. Caring is not optional
• 2. Innovate for the customer, not the press release
• 3. Keep Listening, keep learning
• 4. Be real, be honest, be yourself
• 5. Focus is the key to fulfilling our vision
Brand Promise
• Smokeball will reduce the stress and increase the profitability of running a small law firm
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Law Firm Translation
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Defining Your
Core Values?
• 3 – 5 Statements of passion.
• Tied to your Mission Statement
• Actionable
• Part of daily life
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Noteworthy Core Values
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Business Impact
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Client Impact
Engaging the hearts, minds, and
hands of talent is the most
sustainable source of competitive
advantage.
- Greg Harris, Quantum Workplace
Engaged Employees Care
• About clients
• About expenses
• About outcomes
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Does this really work?
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Ownership, Engagement & Your Team
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Common Law Firm Culture Challenges
• Lack of connection to goals
• Lack of mutual role respect
• Lack of focused encouragement
• Lack of clear direction
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Challenge: Lack of connection to goals.
No company, small or large, can
win over the long run without
energized employees who believe
in the mission and understand
how to achieve it. – Jack Welch
Undefined Roles w Goals =
• Distracted employees
• Lack of motivation
• No connection to the client
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Game Plan• Strategic Planning as a Group
• Include the team in business decisions
• Set Team & Individual Goals
• Tie Goals to Metrics
• Team Highlights
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Challenge: Lack of mutual role respect.
• Respect is how to treat everyone,
not just those you want to impress.
– Richard Branson
• Every role contributes to
the firm’s success
• Every person is important
• No one is ‘better’ than an
other teammate
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Game Plan
• Focus on unifying your team
• Kill negative criticism immediately
• Require job shadowing
• Discipline when required
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Challenge: Lack of focused encouragement.
• When you lavish praise on
people, they flourish. Criticize
and they shrivel up. – Richard
Branson
• Yell enough & get ‘yeses’
• Mistakes = opportunities to
learn & grow
• ‘Good Job’ and ‘Thanks’
… for what?
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Game Plan
• Applaud and reward specifics
• Set aside ‘rock star’ money
• Incentivize business wins
• Encourage specific skill sharing
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Challenge: Lack of clear direction.
• What is my job again?
• Where will I be in a year?
• Why should I care?
• When you become a leader
success is all about growing
others. – Jack Welch
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Game Plan
• Realistic Job Description
• Outline of Daily Duties
• Monthly Goal Setting
• Goals Tied to Metrics & Incentives
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Implementation
• Engage Employees in the Process
• Encourage Improvement
• Express Personal Challenges
• Post Mission & Values throughout
the office!
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Culture Boosters• Job Shadowing
• Huddles
• Inclusion in planning / decisions
• Team Outings
• Half day rewards
• In office events & desk decorating
• Office perks (Costco is your friend)
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These all tie back to…
• Mission Statement
• Core Values
• Actions of Leadership
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Lead with Confidence.
Thoughts become things, choose the good
ones. - Mike Dooley, TUT
• Learn how to reset
• Encourage yourself
• Stay positive & avoid self-pity
• Think in the ‘after’
• Be helpful to others
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Recommended Reading
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Find, Follow, Friend!Follow me @ChelseyLambert
Get to know me on LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/ChelseyLambert
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Thank you for listening!