1.  Know your staff and your fellow Partners

Relatively early on, try to establish the name of their partner (if they have one), family details (hometown, family, early life), main drivers/interests outside of work and the hopes they have for their career.

2.  Sharing aspirations

Keep the team well briefed about where it is going and what is expected to achieve. A shared vision creates a sense of purpose and belonging to which humans respond very positively.

3.  Communications

Use various modes of communication such as memos, emails, letter, verbal, as appropriate for the occasion.  The more personal the message, the more personal the mode of communication. 

4.  Make the time

Develop a sense of when to give undivided attention, even for short periods of time and it earns a huge amount of respect and loyalty from the team.

5.  Praise, appraise and challenge

Praise good performance. Appraisals and reviews provide time to focus on individuals, their development and future with the firm. Although difficult, do not avoid giving challenging feedback on unsatisfactory performance. Striking a balance between encouragement and practical help to improve is a very powerful tool of leadership. 

6.  Create a sense of personal career progress

Create a sense of personal progress, not just through any formal review or discussions but by encouraging your team to look out for and take advantage of new learning opportunities and experiences to enhance their overall career prospects.

7.  Spot signs of stress

Look out for and deal with members of staff who are showing signs of stress and unhappiness. Do not avoid this role because it might take up too much of your time. Helping people out of stressful circumstances is one sure way to earn respect and establish yourself as a genuinely concerned leader.

8.  Recognise and acknowledge your own failings

Because you are a leader, you are not exempt from recognising your own failings and apologising for them.  It is not a sign of weakness, rather it is a sign of strength.  

9.  Team meetings

Raise team meetings from awful to ‘good’ by agreeing a ‘contract’ with your team defining how meetings will be run.

10.  Your demeanour

Be the energiser, even if your own batteries are low. Your mood as a Partner and leader is highly influential on the attitudes and demeanour of those around you.

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