It can be hard to tell your partners in your law firm or accountancy firm that you want to go for partnership. You don’t want to come across as pushy or arrogant, or speak out of turn.
But I’ve spoke to many partners over the years and they all agree that if you want to make partner in your firm, the first step in the process is to tell a partner.
I’m Heather Townsend, author of Poised for Partnership and co-author of How to Make Partner & Still Have a Life. I’m the leading global expert in what it takes to move from senior fee earner to partner – and when you get there, stay there. Here are 5 ways to work with me.
So, why do are you worried about doing this? I’ve heard people say things like this:
- that’s not the way it’s done in my firm
- it’s too early to think about going for partner
- I don’t want to come across as pushy or arrogant
- I’m worried they wouldn’t take me seriously
- I’m worried that they will tell me I’m not good enough
- I don’t want my peers (or partners) to think I’m getting ideas above my station
If you read through this, most of it is probably in your head rather than based on fact.
However, you may find my Partnership Readiness Assessment is a great way check whether you are probably seen to have partnership potential by your partners.
If, after completing the Assessment, you find that you are probably not yet seen as partnership potential, my recommendation is to work on the gaps identified in the assessment for the next 3-6 months before having any conversation with your partner about wanting to become a partner.
Now, how to tell your partner that you want to make partner? It’s probably not advisable to announce in a pub, slightly tipsy (or very tipsy) that you want to become a partner.
Neither is telling a room full of your peers that you want to be a partner the best way to have the conversation.
Don’t even think about getting someone else to talk to your partner about your partnership prospects – are you a man/woman or mouse?
If you are going to be a successful partner, you must be prepared to have a courageous conversation. Here is how to have this conversation.
Firstly, arrange to have a private conversation with the partner you work with most often or the partner/director/senior associate who has been allocated to you as a mentor. If you are asked for a reason for the meeting, say it’s about ‘how you are getting on in the firm (or something like that). In the meeting, after some chit-chat, ask the partner a couple of questions:
- how do they think you are performing?
- where could you be improving or strengthening your skill set ready for the future
- what do you think about my potential for progressing my career in this firm?
- what skills or capability would I need to gain if I wanted to make partner and this firm?
Questions such as these will underscore that you are keen and committed to progressing to partner – and will also naturally lead onto a natural conversation about whether you want to get to partner. If you are serious about getting to partner AND still having a life, you will find my career action plan (free download) an essential tool to enable you to do this.
I’m Heather Townsend, author of Poised for Partnership and co-author of How to Make Partner & Still Have a Life. I’m the leading global expert in what it takes to move from senior fee earner to partner – and when you get there, stay there. Here are 5 ways to work with me.
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