Have you ever had a partner read your Business Case and ask: “But why should it be you? And why now?”

That can feel deflating. Especially when you’ve spent years building your practice and the answer feels obvious to you. But here’s the truth: the vast majority of Business Cases never answer those two questions explicitly. And partners feel that gap, even when they can’t immediately articulate what’s missing.

 In this episode, you’ll discover exactly how to build your answers to both questions; with the evidence that makes a partnership say yes.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• Why your technical skills and track record are the wrong answer to the ‘Why Me’ question. And what your partners are actually looking for instead

• How Jem, a sales director already winning hundreds of millions in client business, transformed his partnership pitch by answering these two questions, and was told it was the best pitch his firm had ever seen

• The four types of evidence that make a strong ‘Why Me’ answer.

• The three ‘Why Now’ arguments, and how to identify which one applies to your situation right now

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?

If you’re thinking, ‘I get the concept, but I’m not sure how to build my full Business Case into a document that actually lands,’ our Progress To Partner Academy can help you.

That’s precisely why we have the on-demand course ‘How to Create a Cast-Iron Business Case for Partner’ in the Progress to Partner Academy. It takes you step by step through building your Business Case and Business Plan using the STAGe model, including how to develop and evidence your ‘Why Me’ and ‘Why Now’ arguments so they are specific and hard to argue with.

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

Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma

You've been working on your Business Case for months, maybe years. You know you need to start talking to partners about your partnership ambitions and getting their buy-in.

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 get the theory, but I need help developing my business case narrative and preparing for these conversations', our Progress To Partner Academy can help you.

That's precisely why we have a course in the Progress to Partner Academy called "How to Create a Cast-Iron Business Case for Partner". It takes you through step-by-step how to develop your narrative, prepare your evidence, and have these crucial conversations with confidence.

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

Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma

You've been working on your Business Case for months, maybe years. You know you need to start talking to partners about your partnership ambitions and getting their buy-in.

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 get the theory, but I need help developing my business case narrative and preparing for these conversations', our Progress To Partner Academy can help you.

That's precisely why we have a course in the Progress to Partner Academy called "How to Create a Cast-Iron Business Case for Partner". It takes you through step-by-step how to develop your narrative, prepare your evidence, and have these crucial conversations with confidence.

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

Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma

Imagine you've decided it's time to have "the conversation" about your partnership ambitions. You book time with a senior partner in your firm. The meeting goes well. You feel energised.

Then, a few days later, you sense something's off with your direct line manager. The atmosphere has changed. They seem cool with you.

What happened? You just committed one of the cardinal sins of partnership politics: you went to the wrong person first.

This political misstep might have just damaged your partnership chances more than any weakness in your Business Case.

The unwritten rule: always go to your direct line manager first. Not the senior partner you once worked with. Not the office managing partner. Not the influential partner you met at a networking event. Your direct line manager. Always.

In this episode, you'll discover the political rules of partnership conversations that no one tells you about, but everyone expects you to know.

In this episode you will learn:

The golden rule of partnership conversations (and why breaking it can damage critical relationships)

Why your direct line manager needs to be your first conversation (and how going over their head signals you don't value them)

How different partners have different agendas (and why the office managing partner cares about different things than your practice group leader)

How to ask for partnership conversations without creating political problems (the exact language to use)

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 understand this intellectually, but I genuinely struggle with self-belief and need help changing the story I'm telling myself', our Progress To Partner Academy has resources specifically designed for this.

We have recorded masterclasses on overcoming imposter syndrome and changing your firm's perception of you. Our on-demand course "How to Truly Commit to Moving Your Career Forward" includes modules on building the courage to take action even when you're uncertain, with exercises that help you reframe your internal narrative.

If you're unsure where to start, take our free Partnership Readiness Assessment. It takes 12 minutes and shows exactly which key indicators to focus on - often just knowing specifically what to work on helps close the confidence gap.

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 prioritize without trying to tackle everything at once.

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

Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma

How many times have you thought: "I'll put myself forward for partnership when I feel more confident"? Or "I'll start leading that client meeting when I'm sure I know what I'm doing"?Here's the problem: you're waiting for a feeling that only comes after you've done the thing, not before.

The confidence gap isn't about what you're capable of. It's about the story you're telling yourself about what you're capable of. And that story is holding you back.

Talented professionals postpone their career progression for years because they don't feel confident enough yet. Meanwhile, less technically brilliant colleagues stride ahead because they backed themselves before they felt ready.

The sequence isn't confidence→action→results. It's action→results→confidence. And understanding this changes everything.

In this episode, you'll discover why waiting to feel ready is backwards thinking - and what to do instead.

In this episode you will learn:

Why the sequence isn't confidence→action→results, it's actually action→results→confidence (and why this changes everything)

The three lies the confidence gap tells you (and why "everyone else feels confident" is the biggest lie of all)

The one question that cuts through all the confidence gap rubbish and tells you exactly what to do next

A real example of someone who won £200k of work whilst feeling terrified (and how the confidence came afterwards, not before)

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 understand this intellectually, but I genuinely struggle with self-belief and need help changing the story I'm telling myself', our Progress To Partner Academy has resources specifically designed for this.

We have recorded masterclasses on overcoming imposter syndrome and changing your firm's perception of you. Our on-demand course "How to Truly Commit to Moving Your Career Forward" includes modules on building the courage to take action even when you're uncertain, with exercises that help you reframe your internal narrative.

If you're unsure where to start, take our free Partnership Readiness Assessment. It takes 12 minutes and shows exactly which key indicators to focus on - often just knowing specifically what to work on helps close the confidence gap.

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 prioritize without trying to tackle everything at once.

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

Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma

You've decided 2026 is your year. You've identified your ONE BIG FOCUS. You've blocked out time in your diary. You're ready to go.

But here's what usually happens: you go too hard, too fast. You try to overhaul everything at once. You add business development on top of your crushing workload. You say yes to every opportunity.

By week three, you're exhausted. By week six, you've quietly dropped most of your career development. By week twelve, you're burnt out and back where you started.

Building momentum towards partnership isn't about working harder or doing more. It's about doing the right things consistently without burning yourself out. And the secret? Start smaller than feels comfortable.

In this episode, you'll discover how to pace yourself from day one so you can sustain your career development efforts for the years it takes to make partner.

In this episode you will learn:

- Why "just work harder" is a terrible strategy for partnership progression (and what successful partners do instead)

- The three traps that kill momentum in the first 90 days (and how to avoid each one)

- How to start smaller than feels comfortable (and why this counterintuitive approach actually gets you to partnership faster)

- A real example of someone who won £180k of new work by doing less, not more

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 prioritize without trying to tackle everything at once.

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

Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma

It's early January. Fresh notebook. New determination. Clear goal: this is the year you make serious progress towards partnership.

You've written down your intentions: "Build my profile. Win more work. Delegate more"

By February, that notebook is buried under client files. By April, you've given up pretending. By December, you're making the same promises for next year.

Here's the brutal truth: most New Year intentions for career progression fail by Valentine's Day. Not because you're not committed, but because intentions without a proper plan and time to execute are just wishful thinking.

The difference between professionals who make progress and those who don't isn't talent or work ethic. It's whether they've opened their diary and blocked out time to work on their career - and then protected that time like it's their most important client meeting.

In this episode, you'll discover the simple system that turns January intentions into actual progress.

In this episode you will learn:

Why "do more business development" isn't a plan (and why your brain can't act on vague instructions)

How to create your ONE BIG FOCUS for the next 90 days (the one thing that will drive your career forward the most)

The only thing that actually works: scheduling time in your diary and protecting it like a client meeting

Why you can't create time for partnership-level work without ruthlessly delegating everything that doesn't need to be done at your level

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 get this, but I need help identifying my ONE BIG FOCUS and creating a system that forces me to work on my career', our on-demand course "How to Truly Commit to Moving Your Career Forward" is designed exactly for this.

The course takes you through creating a career development plan you're actually motivated to implement. You'll identify your ONE BIG FOCUS, create your Default Diary, and build habits that support your progression. By the end, you'll have a concrete plan and protected time in your diary to execute it.

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 to progress your career.

If you find this episode useful, don't forget to like it and then subscribe so you don't miss another episode.

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

Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma

Picture this: It's December 2026. You're looking back at the year, and once again, you haven't moved your career forward.

Not really. You meant to. You had good intentions in January. But somehow, twelve months slipped by whilst you waited for the right moment, for your partners to give you clearer guidance, for your workload to calm down.

Meanwhile, your peer, the one who's arguably less technically brilliant than you, has just been told they're on the partnership track. Why? Because whilst you were waiting for permission, they just started.

The uncomfortable truth: you're waiting for permission that's never going to come. Partnership isn't a promotion where you wait your turn. It's a transition to business ownership. And business owners don't wait to be told what to do - they figure it out and get started.

In this episode, you'll discover why the Permission Trap is killing your career progression and what to do instead.

In this episode you will learn:

- Why partnership doesn't work like previous promotions (and why waiting for your turn will leave you stuck)

- The three things you're probably waiting for that will never arrive (and why your partners deliberately keep criteria fuzzy)

- What happens to your career when you defer action year after year (whilst less talented peers overtake you)

- How to give yourself permission to start before you feel ready (because confidence comes from doing, not before doing)

What help is out there for you to progress your career in the professions?

If you're thinking, 'I understand I need to stop waiting, but I'm genuinely unsure where to start', take our free Partnership Readiness Assessment. It takes about 12 minutes and gives you an instant report showing exactly which areas you need to focus on.

If you want structured support to create your career plan and actually implement it, our on-demand course "How to Truly Commit to Moving Your Career Forward" gives you the frameworks to build a plan you're motivated to execute, PLUS the tactics to create the time you need to work on it. You'll set your first ONE BIG FOCUS for the next 90 days and create habits that support your career progression.

What help is out there for you to progress your career in the professions?

If you're thinking, 'I get the theory, but I need more help navigating the politics and building my business case for partnership', our Progress To Partner Academy can help you.

That's precisely why we have a suite of courses in the Progress to Partner Academy to help you with this. For example, our course on building your business case for partnership gives you the frameworks to position yourself strategically. And our virtual masterclasses on managing the politics of partnership give you practical tools for this crucial period.

If you find this episode useful, don't forget to like it and then subscribe so you don't miss another episode.

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

Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma

Picture this: You're on the partnership track. Your partners want to see you being a good firm citizen - getting involved in office initiatives, social mobility programs, pro bono work, workplace culture activities. So you say yes. You say yes again. And again.

But now you're stretched thin. Your utilisation is suffering. You're working longer hours just to keep up with your chargeable work. And you've got six non-chargeable responsibilities when you probably only have capacity for two.

How do you have the conversation to drop some of these responsibilities without partners thinking you're selfish or not committed to the firm? This is one of the biggest bear traps for professionals on the partnership track - and today, we're going to solve it.

In this episode you will learn:

- Why partners actually have conflicting views on firm citizenship (and how to navigate what this means for you)

- The exact conversation framework to use when you need to drop commitments without triggering the "not a firm citizen" response

- How to assess which firm citizenship activities are strategically valuable versus dead-end time sinks

- Why going to the wrong person first about dropping responsibilities can backfire politically - and who to approach instead

What help is out there for you to progress your career in the professions?

If you're thinking, 'I get the theory, but I need more help managing my time better so I can do both chargeable work and firm citizenship well', our Progress To Partner Academy can help you.

That's precisely why we have a suite of courses in the Progress to Partner Academy to help you with this. For example, our course 'How to Make Time for Business Development' gives you practical frameworks for managing competing priorities and having the right conversations about your workload. And we have great videos on navigating politics and learning how to gracefully say no to partners.

If you find this episode useful, don't forget to like it and then subscribe so you don't miss another episode.

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

Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma

You've spent years building your career. Strong financials, great client relationships, partners telling you you're on track. You're in touching distance of partnership - maybe 3 months away, maybe 15 months away. This should be the exciting final stretch.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: this is exactly when some of the best candidates accidentally derail themselves. In cricket, they call it the "nervous 90s" - when a batsman is so close to making a century that they want it too much and do stupid stuff they wouldn't otherwise do. The same thing happens on the path to partnership.

In this episode, you'll discover the five critical mistakes that can cost you the partnership you've worked so hard for - and more importantly, how to avoid them. These aren't theoretical pitfalls. These come directly from partners who've watched strong candidates stumble in the final stretch and want you to succeed where others have failed.

In this episode you will learn:

Why your utilisation numbers can sink your partnership bid even when everyone's backing you - and how to fix the problem before it's too late

The difference between healthy ambition and "sharp elbows" that make partners think twice about making you their business partner

How to balance being a firm citizen without becoming so overcommitted that your billable work suffers (and the exact conversation to have when you need to drop commitments)

Why "meets expectations" feedback in your final stretch is actually a warning sign you need to address immediately

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 get the theory, but I need more help navigating the politics and building my business case for partnership', our Progress To Partner Academy can help you.

That's precisely why we have a suite of courses in the Progress to Partner Academy to help you with this. For example, our course on building your business case for partnership gives you the frameworks to position yourself strategically. And our virtual masterclasses on managing the politics of partnership give you practical tools for this crucial period.

If you find this episode useful, don't forget to like it and then subscribe so you don't miss another episode.

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

Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma