Loyalty evaporates when secrecy, poor communication and pseudo-caste systems exist among staff and lawyers. The typical symptoms of disloyalty and distrust include a lack of interest in the firm, reduced productivity, high turnover, poor attendance at firm meetings or activities, lack of cross-selling and a fear of expressing opinions because of possible retribution. Most flagging law firms have poor or weak leadership. Effective leadership involves spending time to articulate firm goals and objectives and motivating partners and employees of the firm to embrace those goals and objectives. In addition, it requires example, consensus-building, fairness, patience and good communication skills.
Many firms have leaders, but they lack leadership.
Leaders must establish a sense of direction and maintain the firm's focus. They must avoid the temptation to place themselves above others. Conversely, leaders must provide for succession and their own eventual replacement. Most important, effective leaders subordinate their own interests to those of the firm. Accountability Successful law firms encourage and demand responsibility for their members' positive and negative acts.