But here’s the problem: How do you actually have that conversation without coming across as presumptuous, pushy, or desperate?
Do you prepare a full presentation deck? A written Business Plan? Treat it like a formal pitch? Or keep it casual over coffee?
Here’s what experienced partners say: don’t over-prepare. This is a conversation, not a presentation. You’re asking for advice and perspective, not delivering a sales pitch.
But there’s a tension: you can’t walk in completely unprepared either. You need to be able to talk intelligently and naturally about your practice without reading from slides.
In this episode, you’ll discover how to socialise your Business Case in a way that positions you as ready for partnership - without sounding desperate or rehearsed.
In this episode you will learn:
Why over-preparing with PowerPoint decks actually hurts your chances (and what to do instead)
How to summarise your Business Case in 1-3 sentences that sound natural, not rehearsed
The question that flips the conversation and makes partners want to help you (instead of you trying to convince them)
A real example of how someone killed their partnership conversation with a 40-slide deck (and what they should have done instead)
If you find this episode useful, don’t forget to like it and then subscribe so you don’t miss another episode.
What help is out there for you to progress your career in the professions?
If you’re thinking, ‘I want to build momentum but I’m genuinely worried about burnout’, our on-demand course “How to Truly Commit to Moving Your Career Forward” addresses exactly this.
The course helps you create a career development plan that’s ambitious but sustainable. You’ll identify your ONE BIG FOCUS, build your Default Diary, and develop habits that keep you performing at your best without running yourself into the ground. It includes practical exercises on saying no, delegation, and creating boundaries that protect your energy.
If you’re unsure where to focus, start with our free Partnership Readiness Assessment. It takes 12 minutes and shows you exactly which key indicators to focus on - helping you prioritise without trying to tackle everything at once.
About Progress To Partner Academy: On-demand career help and guidance
You have to drive your career forwards. Your firm wouldn’t do that for you.
Stop waiting to be noticed for your firm to send you on a course or invest in your development.
Make the firm notice you! You will get the skills and knowledge about what the partners are really looking for when you join our Progress to Partner Academy.
Join our Progress To Partner Academy - https://subscribe.howtomakepartner.com/progresstopartner/ and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.
Links:
Complete our FREE Partnership Readiness Assessment - https://careerprogressionreadiness.scoreapp.com to see where you have gaps in your own development - you’ll get a personalised report with actions for what progress your career forward
Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathertownsend/
Join our Progress To Partner Academy - https://subscribe.howtomakepartner.com/progresstopartner/ and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.
Buy your copy of Poised for Partnership - https://amzn.to/3ETEYk3
Buy your copy of How To Make Partner And Still Have A Life - https://amzn.to/4iLxugM
Buy your copy of The Go To Expert - https://amzn.to/3HGPYlP
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