Frustration one of many topics at packed solo and small firm conference

Oct. 28, 2011 – Frustration was the topic of discussion this morning at the Wisconsin Solo and Small firm Conference (WSSFC) in Wisconsin Dells. Specifically, E-Myth Worldwide’s Karin Iwata focused on a process to help lawyers deal with the frustrations of solo and small firm practice.

Yesterday, Iwata advised lawyers on ways to shift their thinking as technical workers to entrepreneurial business owners, which can increase equity and efficiency. Today, she taught a process to address and eradicate frustrations that impede the firm’s progress.

“What we know is that every frustration that you experience in your practice is due to the lack of a system, or due to a system that is broken or needs to be fine-tuned in some way,” said Iwata, a business coach who advises business executives and lawyers across the country.

“Sure, there may be a quick fix to put out the fire, but the frustration will return. And it can become absolutely maddening,” Iwata said. “A process can eliminate frustrations for good.”

Wisconsin lawyers are receiving useful advice from business experts like Iwata and Wisconsin-based Chris Carmen, a certified business coach of ActionCoach. In his presentation, “7 Secrets to Running your Practice,” Carmen discussed the steps necessary to effectively delegate work among staff and to ensure the lawyer’s expectations are consistently met, among other practice strategies to increase efficiency and profits.

In addition, more than 300 attendees at the WSSFC are taking opportunities to network and obtain practical tips from lawyer-speakers on substantive law, practice management, technology, ethics and work-life balance. The conference continues through tomorrow.

The frustration process

Chris Carman discussed the steps necessary to effectively delegate work among staff, in addition to other practice strategies.

Iwata defines “frustration” as an undesirable and recurring event in your business over which you feel you have little or no control. As a solo or small firm lawyer, can you think of one? Iwata says the good news is, there’s a solution to every frustrating condition.

First, lawyers must determine the underlying cause of the frustration. In most cases, the frustration is not caused by someone or something. Frustration is caused by a system that is not in place to deal with the frustrating condition, or an existing system that fails to deal with it.

“A system is nothing more than the way that you do something routinely,” Iwata said. “The purpose of a system is to get a specified result.”

Lawyers have a system of doing things to achieve consistency, Iwata says. For instance, lawyers want to deliver service in a consistently excellent way, or get consistent referrals. That’s the point of systems, and it’s no different for the frustration process.

“So when you bump up against frustrations, things you encounter on a daily basis, whether you have staff or not, you have to look at the system that is not working,” Iwata said.

She offered the example of “Marsha,” the new employee who spends a large amount of time in the break room. The lawyer is frustrated that Marsha is not productive.

But Marsha is not the problem. The root cause of the problem is the lawyer does not have a proper training system in place, so Marsha is waiting for work to be assigned. Creating or improving this system will help Marsha be the productive employee the lawyer hired.

This “Marsha” example applies to any frustration. “There can’t be a quick fix for recurring frustrations,” Iwata said. “A frustration can’t be solved without diagnosing the symptoms that cause it and making a commitment to change the system that allows it to recur.”

Other activity

Attorneys Tom Watson and Nancy Trueblood, two members of a panel on “Starting a Law Practice,” discussed things like business formation, trust accounting, client development, billing, and communicating with clients. Networking was another big topic.

They say lawyers need certain procedures in place before the doors open, and participating in interactive sessions can provide the practical advice on best practices and pitfalls to consider.

Thinking about running your practice from the local coffee shop? State Bar Practice Management Advisor Nerino Petro and Jeff Krause of Krause Practice Management LLC say technology has made it possible for practitioners to “cut the strings.”

In their session on “remote computing,” the two Wisconsin attorneys talk about join.me for desktop sharing and Skype for video conferencing, as well as other free tools that can assist lawyers in their “mobile” practices. And Milwaukee attorney Michael Moore packed the room with his “Managing your Time: Get More Done in Less Time” presentation.

Don’t miss day three of the WSSFC on Saturday. Presenters will discuss topics on student loan repayment, legal writing, and legislation impacting personal injury law, among others.

Jerome Mayne, one of the nation’s premiere speakers on critical decision-making, is the closing plenary speaker. Mayne was an aspiring finance professional and chief executive officer before FBI investigations landed him in prison. The humorous Mayne now tells his story.