The Art of The Out-Of-Office: Sign Off Smartly and Re-Set for 2025

Planning to unplug for the holidays? Your out-of-office message can keep clients informed and reassured. Discover tips for a professional sign-off.

Business Development IdeasSue-Ella Prodonovich4 December 2024Prodonovich AdvisoryEnd of year, Out Of Office Email

Can Lawyers Be Too Client Centric?

Being “client-centric” has almost become a cliché in the way firms describe themselves. However, some leading thinkers in the legal field see the ability of lawyers to say “no” as a key element of their professionalism, writes Andrew Mckenzie.

Client Relationships, NewsSue-Ella Prodonovich12 November 2024Prodonovich AdvisoryClient Centricity, Michele DeStefano, Laura Empson, Client Relationshps, Client-Centred Legal Services, Andrew Mackenzie

How to Do Social Events When you Really Don't Want To

The ‘silly season’ is upon us, and if you’re an introvert like me, chances are you could be dreading it… That’s why I’ve come up with these tips to help you find it both rewarding and (dare I say) enjoyable.

Sue-Ella Prodonovich12 November 2024Prodonovich AdvisoryNetworking, Business Development Tips, Introvert, How to

Leadership Foundations: Essential Mindset Shifts For Lawyers

Do lawyers make great leaders? Professor Michele DeStefano believes they can—but it takes more than technical skill to earn true followership. Here’s her Three Rules of Engagement to help you make the shift from subject matter expert to a trusted adviser and leader…

Client Relationships, Business Development SkillsSue-Ella Prodonovich28 October 2024Michele DeStefano, Leadership Upheaval, Leadership, Law Firm Leadership, Client listening, Listening Skills, Trusted Advisor, Harvard Law School

The Easiest, Most Effective Marketing You Can Do Right Now

When uncertainty rattles business confidence, the best marketing is to show you’re there for your clients. It’s a purposeful way to connect and position yourself as the trusted adviser they need right now. We show you how to do just that…

Client Relationships, Business Development IdeasSue-Ella Prodonovich23 October 2024Prodonovich AdvisoryClient Relationship

How To Prepare For a Client Meeting: Sue-Ella's S.L.A.Y. Meeting Tool

Meetings with prospective clients are a critical part of any lawyer’s business development efforts, but striking the right balance between under-preparation and over-preparation can be challenging. Sue-Ella's S.L.A.Y. framework—Share, Learn, Ask or Affirm, and 'Yes' —provides a clear, actionable method for preparing effectively.

Client Relationships, Business Development IdeasSue-Ella Prodonovich12 September 2024Prodonovich AdvisoryBusiness Development For Lawyers, Client Meeting Preparation, Law Firm Growth Strategies, Client Engagement, First Client Meeting, S.L.A.Y. Framework, Sue-Ella's SLAY Framework, Global Law, Professional Services Firms, Professional Business Development, BD45, Client-Centred Legal Services, Law Firm Leadership

Five Ways Women Can Thrive in Professional Networks

The results are in, and most of us agree: BD is more difficult for women in the insolvency and restructuring sector. Could the opportunity for niche profiling and a shift in client profiles offer a ray of hope?

Business Development IdeasSue-Ella Prodonovich31 July 2024Prodonovich AdvisoryLIPS, Ladies Insolvency Professionals, Business Development, Women Fee-earners

An Opportunity for Leaders Of Legal Teams in Australia

An opportunity for Leaders in Law Firms or Legal Departments to work with Prof Michele DeStefano in Australia from 12-18 October, 2024.

NewsSue-Ella Prodonovich2 July 2024Prodonovich AdvisoryMichele DeStefano, Leadership, Leadership Capability, Leader Upheaval

Sue-Ella’s Guide For New Partners

If you’re one of this year’s crop of new Partners let me begin by saying congratulations. Partnership is a significant career milestone and one you should be celebrating. It also means you’re going to have to have a solid game plan for cementing your position and growing your practice into everything it should be.
Here’s my 10-point plan for doing just that …

Business Development Ideas, BD45: 45-minute CoachSue-Ella Prodonovich20 June 2024Prodonovich AdvisoryGuide For New Partners, Lawyers, Management Consultants, Business Advisers

Is Word-Of-Mouth Dead? Rethinking Referrals in The Digital Age

Word-of-mouth is still king when it comes to building a professional services practice but the new business pathway is getting more tortuous.

Business Development IdeasSue-Ella Prodonovich3 May 2024Prodonovich AdvisoryDirectories, Awards, Foraging, word of mouth, Building profile

Three Things Your Associates Were Afraid to Ask (But You Really Should Tell Them)

When it comes to the way your law firm operates - and what you expect your lawyers to do to keep it profitable - you might be surprised what your associates don’t understand.

Business Development Skills, Public WorkshopsSue-Ella Prodonovich14 March 2024Prodonovich AdvisoryFMRC, Associate, Senior Associate, Sam Coupland, Business Skills for Lawyers, Law Firm, Lawyers

6 Ways to Tackle Your Business Plan

Writing an effective business plan doesn’t have to be painful. Here’s how you can get more out of yours in 6 steps.

Business Development Ideas, Business Development SkillsSue-Ella Prodonovich22 February 2024Prodonovich AdvisoryBusiness Plans, Lawyer, Lawyers, Law Firms, Business Advisors, FY25

How To Close That Business Development Gap in 2024

In demanding times like these your business development plans become even more important. Here’s how to tackle them plus 5 CPD sessions to show you even more.

Business Development Ideas, Public WorkshopsSue-Ella Prodonovich1 February 2024Prodonovich AdvisoryBusiness Plans, Business Development, CPD, Linkedin, MCLE, Lawyers, Law Firm, Business Advisors, Ross Fishman

How Lawyers Can Build Great Business Skills

Firms want fee earners to be more than reliable technicians. They want professionals with commercial nous who can make good business development decisions based on intuition rather than just analysis. But not everyone knows instinctively what constitutes good BD. And what works for one firm may not work for another. So, how can you develop that instinct?

Business Development Skills, Public WorkshopsSue-Ella Prodonovich28 November 2023Prodonovich Advisorybusiness skills, leadership capability, lawyer, professional development, Sam Couplan, Sam Coupland, FMRC, Financial Skills, CPD

Are Chief Marketing Officers Irrelevant in Professional Services Firms?

Back in 2005 this research provided ideas for Marketers in professional services firms who wanted a seat at the leadership table. I think its just as relevant today.

NewsSue-Ella Prodonovich27 November 2023Prodonovich AdvisoryAPSMA, ICON, Marketing, CMO

The Boutique Lawyer Show: Why BD is harder for some than others [Podcast]

In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Prodonovich Advisory Principal, Sue-Ella Prodonovich (who also regularly serves as a judge for Lawyers Weekly awards programs), to discuss how business development can, and does, prove more difficult for women leaders in law.

Business Development IdeasSue-Ella Prodonovich22 November 2023Lawyers Weekly, Business Development, Women Lawyers, Lawyers, The Boutique Lawyer Show

It's Official: Professionals Believe Business Development Is More Difficult for Women

The results are in, and most of us agree: in the context of professional services, BD is more difficult for women. But could the shift to online offer a ray of hope?