Motivating the Next Generation of Leaders
Posted By Rob Millard - 0 Comments -
Over the summer of 2004, my Edge International colleague Karen MacKay surveyed partners and associates worldwide about what associates felt motivated them and also what partners believed motivated associates. The study was undertaken in collaboration with the member firms of Multilaw, a leading global network of independent law firms. The results revealed an interesting gap!
Respondents
74% of the partners who responded to our survey were born during the post WWII baby boom between 1946 and 1964. Demographers have described this group as idealistic, revolutionary, highly competitive and driven by money.
71% of the associates who responded were born between 1965 and 1980 - crowned by demographers as Generation X. This demographic group is described as independent, skeptical and resourceful.
Overview of the Top Four Issues
Time for personal life ranked as extremely important to 44.44% of the respondents worldwide. 1 in 3 associates in North America cited time for a personal life as extremely important. 73% of associates in North America told us their billable targets were 1800 billable hours per year or more and pushing higher. The extreme importance placed on time for personal life may simply be a reaction to the ever-increasing hours required by North American law firms and could be a lesson to firms in other regions.
As one respondent put it, "my firm changed its rules since I started working here. First there was a 1900 hour goal and then it became the rule. Now, making 1900 is the minimum and you should make 2100... Now firm management has decided to implement a requirement of at least 2500 hrs dedicated to the firm. This means that we are now supposed to bill not less than 1900 (if possible more) plus another 600 hrs of practice development, CLE courses, and other things to promote the firm. How can one have a life or even be productive if you cannot take a vacation and when you must work every day 10 to 12 hours, plus pretty much every other weekend of the year to be able to achieve these goals?"
In the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific and in South America billable targets in the respondent firms appear to be more manageable. The vast majority have billable targets between 1400 and 1600 hours. While time is still very important to associates in those regions as they balance their personal and professional lives, they are more interested than their North American counterparts in professional growth, achievement, security and advancement to partnership - perhaps because their billable targets are manageable.
When partners were asked how important time for personal life was to the associates with whom they worked most closely, only 1 in 5 ranked it is extremely important compared to 1 in 2.4 associates worldwide.
Professional Growth came in second, ranked extremely important by 37% of associates around the globe while perceived as extremely important by only 26% of partners.
Opportunity for Advancement was extremely important to 34% of the respondents worldwide. According to our study, advancement and achievement are most important to young lawyers in Asia-Pacific.
Job Security was the final motivator in our top four. Perhaps because of complicated political and economic times, or perhaps because of the relentless downsizing and restructuring of corporations worldwide. Whatever the reasons, a secure future is an extremely important motivator to more than 1 in 3 associates who responded.
Read the whole article here
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