What Color Is Your Job?

Some questions to ask when making the choice whether to manage or advise:

1. When did you last review and refine your business strategy? Is it still relevant?
2. Are the plans being implemented? If not, what are the impediments?
3. How much time are you spending in meaningful face-to-face interaction with staff?
4. Is there an identified successor to run the practice if something happens to you?
5. What are the skills this person has and what is he/she missing? What is your process for closing these gaps, and when will you know it has been accomplished?
6. Have you been able to assign the lead role of advising clients to anyone? If not, why?
7. Have staff or clients expressed concern about your responsiveness, decision making, or lack of availability?
8. Are you satisfied that you are giving full attention to all your clients?
9. What’s missing in your deliverable?
10. Are you confident that everybody’s plans are up to date?
11. Are you confident that there are no gaps in your clients’ files that could make you vulnerable to a lawsuit?
12. Do you have adequate time to spend on practice development, client service, and management?
13. If you’re forced to make a choice due to time constraints, which area gets short shrift?
14. Are you fulfilled in all of your responsibilities? If not, which ones would you change if you had options to do so?