ConvergenceCoaching, LLC
Cool Culture Attributes Firm Evaluation
Your firm’s culture is a special mix of elements that create your firm’s unique feel. Below are twelve
cultural attributes that we believe most appeal to today’s up-and-comers. Ask your partners and
managers to rate your firm’s performance in each of these twelve areas on a scale of 1 to 4, where a
4 rating means your firm almost always exhibits that attribute and a 1 means your firm almost never
exhibits that attribute. Compare ratings and identify the areas you collectively rated lowest (or least
exhibited). Explore changes you could undertake in the lower-rated areas to make your firm “cooler”
and then implement them. You’ll be surprised by how your willingness to assess and change can
have a positive impact on your firm’s overall “feel” all by itself.
1. Your firm’s mission, vision, values, objectives and overall strategy are clear and are used to
drive your firm’s performance.
2. Firm leaders engage with people at all levels, and up-and-comers are included in leadership
team meetings and in the development of strategy when possible.
3. Firm leaders take the firm’s values and norms seriously and reflect them in their day-to-day
interactions.
4. Firm leaders and team members strive for high performance and are accountable for their
roles, goals and commitments.
5. Firm leaders understand that change is inevitable and strive to be proactive and accepting of
change – choosing to lead change instead of react to it.
6. Leaders invest development time in their people and take staff along to shadow work and
encourage them to ask questions and provide feedback. They assign ownership of clients,
projects and initiatives to staff members at many levels.
7. Because of their commitment to grow people, firm leaders encourage their people to take
risks and learn from their mistakes.
8. Firm leaders strive for open communication, regularly encouraging employee feedback via
small group meetings or surveys and listening to input without defense.
9. Firm leaders reflect a culture of life-long-learning, taking courses and encouraging upstream
and peer feedback on their own performance.
10. Your firm is working toward a work anywhere, anytime approach, where the firm creates onesize-fits-one schedules and goals and success is measured more by specific financial
contributions and the production of deliverables and less on “face time.”
©Copyright ConvergenceCoaching, LLC 2000-2014
Distribution or reprinting with permission only.
Page 1 of 2
All rights reserved.
ConvergenceCoaching, LLC
Cool Culture Attributes Firm Evaluation
11. Firm leaders see technology as a strategic enabler and strive to be early adopters. You include
young up-and-comers in IT strategy.
12. Your firm embraces social media and encourages its use for communication, marketing and
recruiting.
©Copyright ConvergenceCoaching, LLC 2000-2014
Distribution or reprinting with permission only.
Page 2 of 2
All rights reserved.