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Withum just promoted 19 people to partnership. Additionally, two people I mentored were also promoted to partnership by the firms they work for. Congratulations to all of you.
Becoming a partner is the next step in the evolution of your career. You should all be proud of this accomplishment as we are for you.
Over the years I’ve realized there is no blueprint on how a new partner should act. Most simply continue as they have, but with that new status; others are told they need to start doing some things they never did previously, and some look to jumpstart themselves by developing new practice areas within their firm. I’ve seen all of these and some others.
I, along with the ageless Sidney Kess, identified some universal traits of how a new partner should perform. These are not rocket science instructions but some common-sense logical career actions, and they apply to everyone becoming a new partner.
Many firms hire people who start as partners for specific reasons such as to fill a gap, to start up or energize a niche, or to acquire extraordinary technical talent or a super rainmaker. Usually these people are underestimated or underutilized by their current firms, and they look to advance themselves and maximize their skills. They are not being addressed by us. These people have already been functioning as partners and settled into a routine they carry over to their new firms.
Staff who are promoted — the people we are addressing — have proven their value through their performance and adaptation to the firm culture. The expectation of continued growth and partnership is the next step in their career. Much of the training for partnership comes from their observations and progression from being a senior manager. However, the promotion to partner is a major new step and needs direct mentoring, instruction and sometimes careful hand-holding.
To jumpstart this, Sidney and I wrote a column that provides a “roadmap” of new partner responsibilities. It condenses what the two of us have experienced and observed during our long careers.
This is not a definitive treatise on functioning as a partner, but a beginning step on your continuing journey. While this is directed specifically to new partners, we feel it would also be helpful to anyone aspiring to become a partner or even current partners. A lot of what is in here can be done, or started to be done, by many at any level they are presently at.
Download it, read it, enjoy it, and learn and grow from it. And good luck with the next phase of your proud career.
Do not hesitate to contact me at emendlowitz@withum.com with your practice management questions or about engagements you might not be able to perform.
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