Often the notion of a firm retreat elicits feelings of a wasted weekend or boredom. Frequently little is accomplished and the hard issues do not get dealt with. Both dollars and time are invested and the results, if any, seem to fade in a short time after the meeting.

Atticus helps design and facilitate retreats to be significant and impactful for your firm. Atticus Practice Advisors help conceive and lead highly successful sessions. They bring experience in diverse areas such as succession planning, firm financials, client development, adding partners, and staffing issues. The emphasis is to focus on the key issues in the firm and deal with them in an effective manner.

Prior to the retreat, each shareholder in the firm is interviewed confidentially to determine hidden problems and issues in addition to the commonly acknowledged ones. These are crafted into an agenda and presented to the partners for approval. Objectives are defined and quantified whenever possible. Prior to the meeting, the agenda is distributed which includes the key issues and objectives.

At the retreat, the Atticus Practice Advisor reviews and gets consensus on the openness of the meeting and candor is encouraged. The facilitator skillfully elicits the experience and knowledge of the participants in a manner that encourages people to talk openly and confidently about serious subjects. The Practice Advisor offers guidance, insights, and training (if appropriate) on subject areas that are being discussed. Often this different viewpoint will inspire creative ideas from the attorneys and help the shareholders think “outside the box.” Metrics are set up wherever appropriate so the firm can assess and evaluate their progress. Responsibilities, accountability, and timelines are set for key tasks.

The effort does not end when the retreat is over. The Practice Advisor will help keep the tasks on time by keeping tabs on the efforts and participants. They will serve as point person to make certain the firm is achieving its strategic goals. To discuss the possibility of engaging an Atticus Practice Advisor to help you with your retreat please call 352-383-0490 or toll free at 888-644-0022.

For your firm retreat, please fill out a Confidential Team Assessment.