The Confidence Gap: Why Feeling ‘Ready’ is Overrated
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The Confidence Gap: Why Feeling ‘Ready’ is Overrated

How many times have you thought: “I’ll put myself forward for partnership when I feel more confident”? Or “I’ll start leading that client meeting when I’m sure I know what I’m doing”? Here’s the problem: you’re waiting for a feeling that only comes after you’ve done the thing, not before. The confidence gap isn’t about…

Your next 90 days: how to get started and not burn out
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Your next 90 days: how to get started and not burn out

You’ve decided 2026 is your year. You’ve identified your ONE BIG FOCUS. You’ve blocked out time in your diary. You’re ready to go. But here’s what usually happens: you go too hard, too fast. You try to overhaul everything at once. You add business development on top of your crushing workload. You say yes to…

The January Reality Check: how to make stuff actually happen
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The January Reality Check: how to make stuff actually happen

It’s early January. Fresh notebook. New determination. Clear goal: this is the year you make serious progress towards partnership. You’ve written down your intentions: “Build my profile. Win more work. Delegate more” By February, that notebook is buried under client files. By April, you’ve given up pretending. By December, you’re making the same promises for…

Stop Waiting for Permission: Why 2026 is Your Year to Act
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Stop Waiting for Permission: Why 2026 is Your Year to Act

Picture this: It’s December 2026. You’re looking back at the year, and once again, you haven’t moved your career forward. Not really. You meant to. You had good intentions in January. But somehow, twelve months slipped by whilst you waited for the right moment, for your partners to give you clearer guidance, for your workload…

To Say Yes or No? How to be seen as a good firm citizen without burning out
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To Say Yes or No? How to be seen as a good firm citizen without burning out

Picture this: You’re on the partnership track. Your partners want to see you being a good firm citizen – getting involved in office initiatives, social mobility programs, pro bono work, workplace culture activities. So you say yes. You say yes again. And again. But now you’re stretched thin. Your utilisation is suffering. You’re working longer…

5 mistakes great candidates make on the way to partnership
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5 mistakes great candidates make on the way to partnership

You’ve spent years building your career. Strong financials, great client relationships, partners telling you you’re on track. You’re in touching distance of partnership – maybe 3 months away, maybe 15 months away. This should be the exciting final stretch. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: this is exactly when some of the best candidates accidentally derail themselves….

The “Peace of Mind” Test: Do your partners think you are ready for partnership
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The “Peace of Mind” Test: Do your partners think you are ready for partnership

Do you ever wonder why partners seem hesitant about your progression despite your strong performance? Here’s the truth: it’s not about your technical ability or billable hours. It’s about something partners call the “peace of mind test” – would they sleep soundly knowing you’re handling their top client while they’re on holiday, or would they…

Stop waiting to build your network of introducers
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Stop waiting to build your network of introducers

Are you waiting until you make partner to start building your referral network? Do you struggle to get referrals from your contacts because they don’t really understand what you do? If you’re wondering when the right time is to start nurturing relationships that could send work your way, this episode will change how you think…

Lines and nodes to depict networking
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Don’t make this mistake – here’s how to build the right relationships

You can work 60-hour weeks, say yes to every request, and still get overlooked for promotion. Why? Because it’s not about pleasing everyone, it’s about building strong relationships with the right people. In this episode of the How to Make Partner Podcast, Heather Townsend explains why political savvy means going deep with 10–15 influential partners,…

Lines and nodes to depict networking
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How to generate more work from your network whilst doing less networking

Here’s how to go from coffees to instructions whilst spending less time ‘networking’ and more time winning work. Do you ever feel like your networking is like “chucking jelly at a wall and hoping some of it will stick?”. It’s a common feeling; you’re busy with coffees and events, but it’s not translating into meaningful…

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