One of the ways I have been known to describe my role as managing partner of Jacksons, is that it is like playing a game of Bop-it. For those who don’t know, Bop-it is one of those games where you have to test your reactions to hit something, twist it, turn it etc. etc. At Jacksons, I would say no two days are ever the same, but very often you move so swiftly from one meeting to the next and from one challenge to the next, that there is very little time to contemplate. I am not saying generally this is a bad thing. It is really exciting to be working in a firm that strives to be innovative and is constantly holding events, seminars, client and referrer meet and greets, breakfast clubs as well as submitting tenders, award entries, blogs, tweets etc. etc. not to mention working to provide a first class legal service to all of its clients.
Last week however, I had the opportunity to spend two sessions where I thought about our processes and procedures and was able to consider improvements or different ways to enhance all of the things above.
The first of these was a day with a consultant, provided as part of our service package by our insurance brokers Paragon. Consultant, David Green appeared in our office on Tuesday, and to be totally honest before he arrived I was thinking I did not have time to chat to him for the day. However, my views on this thought changed very quickly as we worked our way through the practices and procedures of Jacksons from our regulatory practices, to our IT infrastructure and on to our thoughts on digital marketing and staff communication. The sceptic in me was soon put back in her box as I was challenged on many pre-conceptions and provided with impartial, but relevant advice on a number of management challenges. This has given me, and the other Jacksons partners, much food for thought.
On Friday, Tony Wentworth and I were privileged to host a workshop given by RTC North on LEAN for service businesses. We worked alongside some fellow professionals, from a number of different businesses, through the principles of Lean in a non-manufacturing environment, at each stage applying this to our own business. It was fascinating to consider how small changes in process and procedure could reduce costs and make us more efficient, enabling us to enhance client services. When we are really busy there is not enough time to consider process and why we do things in particular ways, and if there is a good reason for doing so, but this workshop gave us three hours to do just that and if you get a chance to attend one of these sessions I recommend you do so. Our instructor, management consultant Jim Barr, had lots of experience and could explain different techniques in a very practical way with examples from clients he had worked with.
Interestingly, I thought last week was going to be very stressful with so much time spent on these activities, leaving less hours in the day to get through the ‘Bop It’ activities, but rather by the end of the week I felt enthused by the ideas produced and inspired to implement all sorts of initiatives. It has made me think, as I wandered in the sun this weekend, that we do need to spend time nurturing ideas and considering different ways of doing things, and that it is healthy to get off the treadmill every so often and to explore new avenues. I think this can only help the ‘Bop It’ reactions and provide new and innovative ways to work through challenges.
Look out Jacksons!
