The Practitioner: Leap year

HAVING READ BOOK after book, and had several coaching sessions, where the message was ‘small steps’ and ‘one step at a time’ – I’ve just taken a massive leap!

The recent unrest in the boardroom has resulted in my leaving the firm to set up a new practice just around the corner.

If I said it was a smooth break-up, I’d be misleading you. I don’t want to give too much away about the gory details so as not to upset anyone. Or do I…?

I think deep down I knew it was going to turn out like this, probably for the past 18 months or so. The self-help books turned out to be right in that respect: ‘you move towards what you expect’ – and I’ve probably been expecting this outcome for longer than I’ve consciously been aware of.

Having made the decision privately and having discussed it with family, friends and close clients, I decided to drop the bombshell to the board.

I took no satisfaction in their dis-satisfaction at my decision, but deep down I’m probably glad that it has taught them a lesson.

The immediate response from the board was for it to be a swift painless exercise, with clients being given the choice as to whether to follow me to my new practice or to stay as they were.

I don’t think they expected the client fall-out to be as big as it was. Nearly a third of the client base has come to my new practice, as well as a handful of the staff – the best staff members at that.

In the weeks since my departure, I’ve since learned that the practice has had to downsize dramatically, shutting one office location, shedding members of staff, and losing more clients.

Do I feel guilty? No, not really.

I was fed up of being spoon-fed lies and empty promises.

The new chapter for The Practitioner starts here.

Wish me luck.

The Practitioner’s uncensored thoughts originally came from the coalface of a regional firm in the heart of England – but now from within their own practice