Get in the driver's seat!

Today, we’re talking about how to - and I know you don’t like this word - sell without being salesy as a lawyer or other type of professional. What do we mean by that? Profile building, initial consults, referrals and introductions.  This conversation explores various stages of the sales process in legal and other professional services, including: How professionals can self-promote with ease, with...

Today, we’re talking about a sense of urgency in professional services firms.  There are (considerable!) benefits to knowing when to speed up and when to slow down. Having the skill to do that can be a game-changer in terms of keeping your team productive and motivated, reducing turnover, maximizing the value of your business development efforts and retaining client loyalty. This conversation expl...

Today, we're talking about something different. Creative hobbies and the benefits they can bring to lawyers and other professionals.  What do you do when you finally have some quiet time, after a long and stressful day of lawyering? For many, the answer includes some mindless scrolling, binge-watching, going for a run or diving into a great book. And sometimes that can be exactly what we need...

Today, we're looking at DEI from a different perspective, completely. Rather than the shoulds of it, we're addressing the why and the how of doing it right. The landscape of professional services firms is somewhat divided when it comes to the difficult topic of DEI. Some firms have policies. Some don’t. Some are open to learning more. Some are disillusioned, disappointed are disinclined....

Today, we’re talking about difficult conversations in the workplace. Facing them head-on, rather than avoiding or delaying... because the underlying issue probably isn’t going away anytime soon. In this episode, we share relatable stories and ideas that range the full gamut of the difficult conversation, from being the initiator to being on the receiving end, from the spontaneous to the planned. ...

Lots of lawyers and other professionals give marketing a try. Once, twice, three times. But they get distracted, discouraged or busy and never really hit their stride. When marketing comes to a halt, you're not just walking away from inquiries, exposure and media. There's also the hidden cost of lost opportunities to build confidence, engage with community and maybe even have a little fu...

At some point in their career,  many lawyers and other professionals consider serving on a board of directors as part of their professional development. And when they do, they usually come face-to-face with inevitable questions, like these ones: - What type of board is right for me?  - How can I best contribute?  - What are some proven ways to handle conflict?  So, In this episode of Get in the Dr...

There are a lot of uncomfortable bumps along the way from solopreneur to CEO of your own professional firm:  - letting go of control as you hire and delegate in a bigger way - prioritizing what matters to you and being flexible with the rest - facing your limits and asking for help from your team or outside advisors  Learning to navigate these (sometimes surprising!) bumps can save you a lot of tr...

There’s a lot of controversy around performance reviews these days! But rather than make a list of pros and cons, we’re performing a dramatic and playful role play. Our discussion shines a light on the issues to show a new way forward.  Deborah plays the role of the passionate consultant shouting from the rooftops “performance reviews don't work”. I play the role of the unconvinced, but curio...

Today, Joanne shares with us why she exchanged an (enviable!), high-level executive role in big corporate for entrepreneurship and how this journey positioned her to build her successful venture. We're illustrating how and why to share an origin story. If you're considering how to tell your story, it can be difficult to decide: What to share? What to hold back? How to tie your journey to...

Today, we're discussing the value of investing in culture change. For many small to mid-sized professional services firms, firm culture is typically not an area that is given a lot of attention. But whether you do or don’t plan around it, you have a company culture. The question is, does it help or does it hinder you from moving towards your practice goals? If the latter, what can you do abou...

For those of you listening on audio platforms – my jersey says THE FINANCIAL SLAYER, all caps! I wanted a playful way to introduce our theme today because financial management, as important as it is, can also be a source of stress for many professionals, including those who are already quite successful! If you are interested in learning more about Carleen Dehaney, Founder and Principal of FXO Cons...

Today's theme is how to negotiate more successfully by bringing more (not less!) of your authentic self to discussions about anything from contracts and proposals to job offers and even performance reviews. Lawyers, architects and other professionals negotiate with (and for) clients and peers on a nearly daily basis. Yet it is an area in which many feel they haven’t received proper training....

Our theme today is how professional and career coaches play a role in supporting clients with decisions, change and leadership.  Hockey, baseball, football fans get the role of coach, intuitively. But this type of coaching isn’t something you watch on a big screen. It’s a bit more abstract and a lot more off the record. So today we will make that more accessible through stories about clients arriv...

Today, we’re talking about creating engaging content that's got personality, on LinkedIn. It's a dynamic conversation with 2 guests - Andy & Marc. We shared stories about finding our true voice, what we noticed about some of our highest-ranking posts and ways to overcome the typical resistance lawyers and other professionals experience when it comes to this type of marketing. To lear...

These days many lawyers and other professionals have had the opportunity to talk about finding their purpose in work and life. In this podcast, we approached the topic a bit differently. Garry makes the interesting point that it's not really about finding your purpose just one time. Rather, it's about finding your new purpose... every time life throws you a curve. Garry Wise is a Toronto...

A lawyer's business development playbook is constantly changing. But there are some steadfast truths about how to win. Listen to this episode, as Norm shares generously and openly from his experience about what works.  Norman Bacal brings years of leadership experience to a career that included building a law firm from scratch. In 1989 he opened a four lawyer shop in Toronto and  over the nex...

Growing pains can be a literal pain. It can be helpful to remember that they're actually a sign of success. In this episode, Erin and I talk about navigating growing pains, at different stages of a firm's life cycle. What worked, what didn't and some lessons learned along the way. Erin Cowling is a former corporate commercial litigator and now Founder & CEO of Flex Legal Network...

Is there a professional community out there that's right for you? How can you make the most of it? If not, what if you were to create your own community? In this episode, Jackie and I swap stories about the challenges and opportunities of community building.  Jackie is an award winning certified financial planner, best-selling author, and featured speaker who has helped thousands of clients g...

Today, we're swapping stories about developing professional relationships, not as a duty, but as an enjoyable activity that can add a lot to life. If you're looking for inspiration on ways to reach out to new people with ease, this episode is for you! Our guest, Samantha Graff Benmor, is an award-winning realtor at The Graff Group and an icon of Toronto Real Estate. Samantha is also the...

Effective leadership doesn't happen without confidence. The confidence to use your voice, to ask for what you need, to assert boundaries and to do it with warmth and kindness. So where does that conviction and strength come from? A good starting point is self-acceptance. In this podcast, Georgette and I exchange some entertaining stories about the blocks we have run into as women leaders when...

How can lawyers build a sustainable law practice? Putting in the right systems and processes will definitely help. But sometimes it's about starting with an uplifting approach and attitude that cultivates connection. In this podcast, Steve Benmor shares how his divorce law practice was (and continues to be) founded on respect for others: his team, his clients and 'fellow' counsel. N...

A successful and sustainable law practice can be built on a foundation of great relationships. Listen as our guest Sara Erskine shares how that process begins and ends with shared values. Sara Erskine is a founding partner at a Boutique Bay Street commercial litigation practice, Weintraub Erskine Huang . Sara has appeared as counsel before all levels of court in Ontario and the Supreme Court of Ca...

When we look at an entrepreneur hitting their stride, it can look like the journey was (deceivingly!) easy. But we all know that success stories don't happen without encountering some bumps in the road. So, when that happens, how can we keep up our strength and continue moving forward toward our goals? Listen to today's podcast guest, Zahra Qureshi, describe how she developed her own per...

 Transparency, commitment and clarity. That's the way to build trusted relationships that work. How is that the same as authenticity? Listen to Trevor Tynes, SEO consultant, describe how he has built his business by showing up authentically, in every way.  Trevor Tynes is obsessed with helping businesses dominate search engines to increase their leads, book more consults, and grow their reven...