The Firm Integration Event - An Interview with Steve McDonald, Managing Partner, Abdo Eick & Meyers LLP, Edina, Minnesota

Developed with your current team members in mind, this event can be customized to include agenda items such as:

• Educating your team on your current strategic plan
• Clarifying their responsibilities in implementation of the plan
• Delivering a process for ongoing accountability
• Strategies for communicating more effectively in the ongoing evaluation process throughout the year

Recently I worked with a firm in Edina, Minnesota, Abdo, Eick & Meyers, LLP and spent an exciting day with their partners and staff delivering this important information to their group. I asked their Managing Partner, Steve McDonald if he would answer a few questions for me and he graciously accepted my invitation.

Boomer: What were the issues that prompted you to contact Boomer to provide a “Team Day” for your firm?

SM: The issues that prompted a team day were communication problems between partners and staff. There seemed to be a lack of understanding on both sides on how each side deals with solutions. Some staff would say there was no communication and some partners would say there was no listening. Both were right but that doesn´t solve anything. This was a great program to help build understanding.

Boomer: Initially, did the team members have some apprehension about this type of event for your firm?

SM: Initially there certainly was suspicion, but we tried to make sure that we explained this (Kolbe Index) was specific to instinct and not personality. That seemed to help people believe we were doing it for the right reasons.

Boomer: What did you find the most beneficial about the “Team Day”?

SM: The major benefit was that we were together as a firm working to get on the same page. With two offices we don´t often get to interact together and your (Boomer´s) format forced some interaction that normally doesn´t occur. I think some of the breakouts gave us a chance to talk in way that isn´t our normal communication pattern.

Boomer: Did you find that you had any “ah hah” moments throughout the day?

SM: The major ah hah moment: I have always been someone who likes change and tries a lot of things by trial and error. I had never been able to understand why everyone doesn´t get satisfaction out of the same things. It made me realize I need to think about how I direct since the majority of staff wouldn’t pick this way of doing things given a choice.

Boomer: Did you feel that the day was valuable for your team and try to give a few examples of what team members have communicated to you since our day together?

SM: The first half of the day was focused on the Kolbe Index. That was great and I think everyone got something out of the analysis. It seemed most everyone I talked with agreed with the assessment. The second half of the day really helped with a specific strategy on how to communicate. This will give us a format to use which seemed to be the hardest part. Everyone believes communication should be better and it is clear that you have to work at it and be aware of it constantly.

Boomer: Would you recommend this type of event for other firms?

SM: I think all firms should embark in this event. So much of a firm´s training is technically focused. This goes beyond the technical individual training and gives us a different strategy to understand where people would be most effective and best of all, be most happy.

Thanks so much Steve for your help and most of all thanks for allowing your staff to participate in such a “firm changing” event.

If you would like more information on how we can customize a day specifically for your firm full of value, new skills and a little bit of fun, call Boomer today and ask for Sandra Wiley, 888-266-6375 or e-mail at sandra@boomer.com