Leaders of professional services firms - from law firms to accountancy, consulting and beyond - face an increasing challenge. Client expectations are changing and service models need to adapt. Regulators are liberalizing markets and at the same time mega multi-disciplinary firms are colonizing parallel sectors. Technology offers new ways of providing and accessing services, which may be less dependent on the people-centred business model professional services firms are built on. The Professional Services Leadership Handbook equips leaders who must find new and better ways to face the future, at the same time as delivering profit today.
About the Authors
Nigel Clark has led marketing teams in professional services firms for more than 20 years in sectors including management consulting, legal, environmental consulting, engineering design, business services and project management. He is a former director of the Professional Services Marketing Group (PSMG).
Ben Kent is the founder-director of insight-led consultancy Meridian West. Ben advises many of the world's leading professional and financial services firms on their client engagement, and provides strategic research, consultancy and training for professional firms.
Alastair Beddow is a director at Meridian West, working with professional and financial services firms of all sizes to develop engaging, differentiated and successful client strategies, business development initiatives and thought leadership campaigns.
Adrian Furner is Managing Director of Kommercialize, the practitioner-led advisory firm focused on commercial excellence. Adrian has held senior corporate leadership positions in which he was responsible for commercial, procurement, and operations,
Industry Reviews
"This eminently practical handbook guides successful professionals on how to build the additional personal competencies they need to stand out as effective leaders. Through a robust interview process with industry leaders, as well as their many years of collective consulting experiences, the authors present a series of thoughtful frameworks and a synthesis of well-constructed leadership lessons. It all amounts to a really useful companion for those who have committed themselves to making the challenging personal transitions ahead - tomorrow's leaders!" * David Bowerin, former Head of Strategic Marketing at Citigroup *
"The Professional Services Leadership Handbook is an excellent tool for future and experienced leaders operating in a dynamic, and ever changing business-to-business environment, where differentiation is a critical success factor, and where leaders often misunderstand how to lead. This is a must read handbook." * Michelle Jones, Chief Communications and Investor Relations Officer, CH2M *
"The authors successfully distinguish the difference between delivering projects and leading professional services firms...This book helps to guide anyone in the industry from project / delivery management to leading teams and businesses to optimise performance." * Marc Barone, AECOM Sector Leader, Water EMIA *
"At last a professional services leadership guide that's based on well researched and real experiences, I would recommend this is read by anyone who seriously wants to gain an extra edge." * Dennis Markey, FRICS *
"An essential read if you are either a leader or an adviser to the top team of a professional services firm." * Gail Jaffa, Managing Partner, PSMG *
"The Professional Services Leadership Handbook is really interesting, hugely practical and a thoroughly good read. Professionals entering the unfamiliar world of leadership will find clear, readable and entertaining advice, peppered with insights from firm leaders. The "how to" approach to knotty issues such as strategy, profitability and client focus is particularly helpful, as is the focus on you as a leader and how you can develop the right skills and mind-set. If you are a leader, or you want to be one, keep this book close, as it will be an invaluable companion. I wish it had been written twenty years ago!" * Nick Holt, Partner at SR Search and former Managing Partner, KLegal *
