Leading Professional Service Firm

This course is intended for senior executives working in professional service firms (PSFs) and in the business of providing advisory services such as management consulting, investment banking, legal, real estate, accounting, financial services, advertising, IT consulting, engineering consulting, HR consulting, R&D, education, architecture, etc. PSFs are unique as their key assets are knowledgeable people who create value for clients. Managing these organisations is a challenge because of the sheer diversity of people and clients. Leaders have to strategise to attract the best talent, create a professional ecosystem and deliver extraordinary client service. India’s service market offers tremendous growth opportunities to PSFs. This course is designed to help individuals with administrative positions in PSFs reflect on and improve their capability to lead their organisations effectively. Through intense case discussions on PSFs, interactive lectures and exercises, participants will deliberate on what it takes to be an effective leader of a PSF and how they can improve their competencies.

Day 1:

Strategic planning process for long-term success of PSFs

Ethics for building a Trust based culture

Hiring and retaining highly competent employees for knowledge-intensive organisations

Day 2:

Proactive client relationships for repeat business

High performing multi-practice firms

Develop strong emotional intelligence for leading self and others

Day 3:

Digitisation, disruptive innovation, and entrepreneurship for growth

Application possibilities of Artificial Intelligence for service firms

Identifying and nurturing the next generation of partners. Balancing professional work against leadership responsibilities

The case study will be the primary educational method. We will focus on the case studies of professional service firms. Additionally, we will employ a mix of lecture-discussions, exercises and simulations. Participants will be encouraged to engage with the sessions as protagonists of situations and through reflection and deliberation arrive inductively at personal insights that will help them be more effective as PSF leaders.

The course is intended for individuals who have administrative responsibilities in their PSFs. Thus, it is most valuable for chairpersons, managing partners, members of executive committees, chief operating officers and executive directors, practice and office heads, and professionals in financial advisory and services. Individuals who have been identified to take these responsibilities but have not yet assumed them may also find the course useful.