Best Melissa Shanahan Podcasts (2024)

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025. Following Your Law Firm Strategic Plan with Melissa Shanahan 40:20

8d ago40:20

40:20

Melissa Shanahan, founder of Velocity Work and host of The Law Firm Owner Podcast, teaches her clients a planning and accountability method she calls Monday Map/Friday Wrap. This method highlights some vital parts of the Agile practices of weekly planning and weekly review meetings. Monday Map/Friday Wrap is about creating micro-feedback loops with…

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Work with Me - Sign Up is Aug 7 0:48

6h ago0:48

0:48

This is your last chance to join to plan for the end of 2024 (and beyond). Let's work together. velocitywork.com/joinBy Melissa Shanahan

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027. The Advantages of a First-In, First-Out Policy 22:55

6h ago22:55

22:55

A common piece of conventional wisdom around how law firms prioritize their work is that they should organize everything around deadlines and due dates. While deadline-driven prioritization does have a place, it's my experience that there's a better technique that law firms should be adopting as their default prioritization method: first-in first-o…

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#267: Raising a Glass to Progress: Updates and Celebrations with Giselle Urbina 36:04

2h ago36:04

36:04

Welcome to a special episode as Melissa celebrates five years of The Law Firm Owner Podcast! There are a handful of other things Melissa is celebrating right alongside the fifth anniversary of the podcast, and she’s using this opportunity to introduce you to Velocity Work’s COO, Giselle Urbina, and highlight everything that’s been going on behind t…

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026. Start with What You Do Now 17:15

1d ago17:15

17:15

Why is the concept of "start with what you do now" crucial for creating meaningful and durable change in your law practice? This principle helps you understand your current processes and the people involved in them, recognizing why you are where you are, so you can make more informed decisions about how to move forward. Tune in this week for a dive…

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#266: Structure vs Flexibility: Your Approach Matters 22:59

35m ago22:59

22:59

There are two approaches to running a law firm and the first one is structured. Discipline and focus are highly valued with this style, and there’s often intensity present too. The second approach is one that’s softer, more flexible and adaptive. Both sound great, but is there a time and place for one over the other? Which foot are you leading with…

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#265: How Your Business Can Fund Your Dreams 27:21

4d ago27:21

27:21

As a law firm owner, you’ve taken huge risks and put in blood, sweat, and tears to lift your firm off the ground. You’ve considered how to run your firm in a way that feels healthy and aligned, and you’re ensuring your clients and team are served at the highest level possible. But have you ever stopped to put a number on what success means to you? …

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024. Sticking with Change When Change Gets Hard 16:46

15d ago16:46

16:46

Visualizing your work on a Kanban Board can be a life-changing improvement to your and your team's overall productivity. But adopting the board as a tool and the Kanban method more broadly can be a little uncomfortable at first, especially when you see all of your to-dos laid out in one place. So, how do you stick with change, like using a Kanban B…

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#264: Is Your People Cost Healthy? 37:58

24d ago37:58

37:58

What is your people cost? Do you know what should be included in and excluded from your people cost? And how can getting into the nitty-gritty from a numbers perspective help you run your firm more smoothly and even create happier employees and clients? If you feel like you’re just surviving as a law firm owner right now and want to understand the …

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023. Roots of the Lawyer Shortage 22:30

23d ago22:30

22:30

The lawyer shortage is a complex issue with multiple factors at play, but the impacts are becoming apparent everywhere, from the public defender crisis to the civil access to justice gap, to the fierce competition for hiring and retaining mid-career associates. But what are the roots of this lawyer shortage? Tune in this week to discover what I bel…

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#263: Hiring: The Smartest Way to Build Your Team 48:15

1M ago48:15

48:15

Are you aware of the return on investment you’re getting from your hires? Does it feel like you have to watch your pennies when it comes to taking an owner’s draw or rewarding your team? How might you be hiring blindly, and how is it affecting the health of both your business and your team? If you’re embarking on your team-building journey with hun…

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022. How to Write Effective Law Firm Policies 27:03

30d ago27:03

27:03

I've spoken before about the importance of making policies explicit. But what does it mean to draft an effective policy in your law firm? Tune in this week to discover what I believe are the elements that comprise a good policy, and learn how to get your team on board in implementing your policies. I share a template for writing effective policies …

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#262: Don’t Get Scammed: Numbers Are Your Roadmap, Not Coaching 17:58

1M ago17:58

17:58

There’s a recurring theme Melissa has noticed in her consult calls with law firm owners. They’re willing to pay thousands on coaching programs without understanding the health of their business, and if this is you, Melissa is here this week to show you why you have no business paying that much when you don’t know what’s going on under the hood of y…

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021. You Can't Scale Your Way Out of a Sustainability Problem 24:14

1M ago24:14

24:14

One of the features of modern business is that there's tons of pressure to grow, scale, and do more with less. Lawyers and their teams aren't exempt from this expectation. It makes sense to leverage our resources and our impact. However, growth for the sake of growth isn't necessarily the healthiest approach for your business, or for the people in …

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#261: The Power of Prioritizing: How to Move the Needle on Important Things 28:41

1M ago28:41

28:41

It’s human nature to fixate on day-to-day tasks—whether that’s in your firm, your personal life, or elsewhere. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the prospect of achieving something greater for your practice or you think that anything outside of those menial tasks requires too much time and energy. Well, consider this your wake up call. If you’re ready to…

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020. The “Really Check:” Fostering Accountability with Jess Birken & Meghan Heitkamp 28:06

1M ago28:06

28:06

In past episodes, I’ve talked in detail about individual practices and how the Kanban method has upleveled them, and today’s show provides living proof. That’s because I’m talking with two clients of mine, Jess Birkin and Megan Heitkamp, of the Birkin Law Office, about the start of their practice and how they’ve transformed their business with syst…

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#260: How to Elevate Your Law Firm’s Online Presence with Matt Burke 46:22

2M ago46:22

46:22

Melissa’s guest this week is someone who has won over not only the Velocity Work community, but the law firm owner sphere as a whole. If your firm’s digital marketing process is something that leaves you overwhelmed and confused, you have no idea what your marketing company is doing for you, or you want to better understand how to get higher-qualit…

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019. Fit for Purpose: Designing Legal Services To Meet Client Needs 26:12

2M ago26:12

26:12

Have you ever put a ton of time and attention into a piece of legal work only to realize that it's not quite hitting the mark for your client? Or maybe you've delivered a technically flawless document, but your client’s just sort of “meh” about the whole thing, like they just don't seem to be satisfied? Tune in this week to discover how the Fit for…

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#259: From Maxed Out to Manageable: How to Reconnect with What's Most Important 26:23

2M ago26:23

26:23

If you’re like most law firm owners, you run hot all the time. Your calendar is full of obligations, weekends are far from relaxing, and it’s causing you pain. The reality is, as important as all these things feel, not everything can be a top priority. So where do you draw the line? It can be incredibly defeating to feel like you can’t get your hea…

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018. Understanding "Jobs To Be Done" to Unlock Hidden Client Needs 32:33

2M ago32:33

32:33

Most lawyers think of their intake form as something that they need to send to the client so they can get the information they need to actually do the legal work their client requires. But what if we shifted the perspective and instead asked the question, "What is the job that my client is hiring my intake form to do?" Tune in this week to gain a d…

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#258: Navigating Peaks: Staying Sharp and Avoiding Sabotage at Every Level 34:26

2M ago34:26

34:26

Do you know where your business falls on the S-curve right now? The S-Curve illustrates the growth of a small business from initial slow growth, to expansion, to a plateau as the market saturates. This means that after a phase of hyper-growth, you will most likely experience a tapering off, and this period is full of opportunities you can take to e…

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017. How Minimum Viable Products Can Improve Efficiency AND Quality 21:13

2M ago21:13

21:13

As you work to meet the high standards you set for yourself, it can become impossible to get tasks all the way through to done. However, in today's episode, I'm bringing you a framework that will help counterbalance your natural tendency to overbuild in the early stages of developing a process or product, so you can ultimately land on a higher-qual…

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#257: The Awesome 80%: Celebrating Good Enough 28:35

2M ago28:35

28:35

In a world that tells you there’s one right way to do things and perfection is virtuous, you’re not alone if you feel resistance to the idea that 80% is enough. The Awesome 80% is the foundation to Melissa’s work across all of her programs, and she’s here today to show you the power of celebrating good enough. Tune in to learn about the importance …

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016. Aligning Your Firm's People and Systems with Tim Lennon 41:14

3M ago41:14

41:14

You've heard me talk about the individual practices and concepts from the Kanban method, but today's episode is an exciting opportunity for you to learn from one of my teachers in this world of Agile, Kanban, and Lean: Tim Lennon. Tim shares his experiences using and teaching the core practices of the Kanban method (like making work visible, limiti…

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#256: What IS Mastery Group?! With Client Services Manager Mika Beccone 39:20

3M ago39:20

39:20

If you’re a long-time listener of the show, you’ll likely be familiar with Mastery Group; the container in which quarterly strategic planning is facilitated. Melissa has the perfect guest on the show this week to dive deep into what you can expect from Mastery Group, Client Services Manager Mika Beccone. Mika is the backend coordinator and point pe…

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015. Mastering Effective Handoffs in Your Legal Practice 30:01

3M ago30:01

30:01

Handing off work, especially multiple back-and-forth handoffs, can be a huge source of delay and rework in your law practice. Tune in this week to discover how to be more effective when handing off work in your legal practice, minimizing the negative effects of ineffective handoffs. Rework is a harmful form of waste in your practice, so you’ll lear…

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#255: What IS Strategic Planning?! 24:26

3M ago24:26

24:26

If you’ve ever questioned the power of strategic planning, look no further. Melissa has centered her entire business around it for good reason, and she believes it is vital for every firm to do. On this episode, she’s laying out the key aspects involved in effective strategic planning so you can plug yourself into this process in a meaningful way a…

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014. How to Prioritize Work Within Your Law Practice 24:18

3M ago24:18

24:18

Ever started your Monday already swamped with emails and tasks, all competing for your attention? Determining the best sequence to tackle these tasks is crucial for maximizing your effectiveness throughout the week and beyond. In today’s episode, I introduce a structured framework that enhances your ability to prioritize demands effectively, helpin…

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#254: How the Sausage Gets Made: A Healthy Firm Requires You to Dig Back in From Time to Time 18:54

3M ago18:54

18:54

There’s a notion in law firm owner communities that owners ought to stay above the fray, and that they don’t need to know how the sausage gets made within certain elements of their businesses. The truth is there’s a fine line between knowing how the sausage gets made and neglecting something important inside your business. Melissa is sharing her th…

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013. Taming Email Overwhelm 24:27

3M ago24:27

24:27

If you’re like a lot of attorneys, one of the more significant sources of overwhelm in your law practice comes from the sheer volume of emails and other communications you have to process in the course of your day. In today’s episode, I share my recommendations for designing a better communications policy for creating more effective, efficient comm…

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#253: Make the Invisible Work Visible: An Audit of Your Calendar 22:47

3M ago22:47

22:47

Your time is your most precious asset, and the reality is, your calendar probably doesn’t accurately reflect how you’re spending it. When you own a law firm, there is so much invisible work that doesn't get captured anywhere, and the only way to truly know where you can buy back your time is to take stock of where it’s going right now. Join Melissa…

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012. Principles for Legal Design with Alexandra Devendra 33:45

4M ago33:45

33:45

One of the hardest things to recognize in a law practice is how the default way in which lawyers approach and deliver their work creates barriers to access for everyday people trying to reach that lawyer’s services. So, how do you identify it and what can you do about it? This week, Alexandra Devendra, founder of design-focused B Corp law firm Alig…

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#252: Want to Give Out Impromptu Bonuses? Do This Before Shelling Out Cash 25:50

4M ago25:50

25:50

Rewarding your team with an unexpected bonus when the firm is thriving feels good, not just for them but for you too. However, shelling out cash without evaluating all the variables can end up creating a win-lose situation for your employees and the continued health of your firm. Join Melissa on this episode as she offers you a guide for giving imp…

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011. The Definition of Done 23:29

4M ago23:29

23:29

How do you know that you’ve done enough to meet the standards you’ve set for your law practice? Today, I have two specific tools that work beautifully together and amount to a specific type of quality standard policy that you can implement within your law practice. Tune in this week as I share two important parts of the Agile Framework - Definition…

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#251: Peak Performance Under Pressure: Strategies for Success When It Counts 23:36

4M ago23:36

23:36

Periods of high pressure are inevitable as a law firm owner. It is crucial to support yourself to get through these times with as much ease, flow, and productivity as possible, but the reality is that most owners are not planning ahead. Join Melissa this week as she shows you why supporting yourself and your health is of utmost importance during ph…

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010. Make Policies Explicit 21:59

4M ago21:59

21:59

If you don’t have explicit policies, it becomes incredibly difficult to develop any consistency around how and when you deliver your work. Tune in this week to discover the importance of establishing simple but clear policies in your law practice. Those policies are going to be the key to improving the quality and consistency of your work product a…

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#250: True Humility: Taking Credit Where It’s Due with Tara Gronhovd 30:44

4M ago30:44

30:44

Are you prone to brushing off your contributions or wins in the name of humility? What are the dangers of not taking credit where it’s due as a leader? Tara Gronhovd is the CEO of Align, where she provides team-focused leadership coaching and development, and she's joining Melissa on the podcast this week to talk about why humility is key to the su…

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009. Focus on Quality To Improve Efficiency 19:37

4M ago19:37

19:37

What if the best way to improve the efficiency of your law practice is to not try to improve efficiency at all, but to focus on quality instead? This may sound paradoxical, but focusing on quality, not efficiency, is the key to unlocking more balanced workloads, smoother workflow, increased capacity, and ultimately greater efficiency while deliveri…

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#249: Leading Productive Meetings: How to Influence Behavior and Increase Engagement 23:07

4M ago23:07

23:07

How often do your meetings feel like a drag? A few key things must be in place if you want to avoid unfocused, distracted, and unproductive meetings, and simple tweaks can be the difference between meetings that feel like duds and meetings that have your whole team shining. Melissa is laying out the keys for you this week. Tune in to discover seven…

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008. Building the Lean Law Firm with Dave Maxfield 50:44

4M ago50:44

50:44

Dave Maxfield, co-author of The Lean Law Firm, joins me today to provide an interesting look into how lawyers can adopt techniques from the Lean methodology to empower and improve their law practices. Tune in this week to discover how to take lean production systems of global production lines and use them to improve your law practice. We’re discuss…

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#248: When You Feel Blindsided: How to Take Better Action 21:26

5M ago21:26

21:26

What do you do when something that feels like an emergency happens in your firm? Whether it’s a key member of your team resigning, receiving a terrible review, or anything else that catches you off guard, Melissa is offering you a guide this week for what to do when you feel blindsided. In this episode, you’ll learn how handling emotionally charged…

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007. Don’t Let Efficiency Destroy Customer Value 28:21

5M ago28:21

28:21

Streamlining processes in your law practice makes sense. It saves you and your team precious time and energy and keeps the backend running smoothly. However, optimizing a system for efficiency doesn’t always go down well with clients. In fact, it can reduce customer value and loyalty, leaving them disengaged from the process you’re helping them thr…

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#247: When Chasing High Growth Rates Becomes Counterproductive 20:34

5M ago20:34

20:34

While you might believe shooting for high growth rates year after year will help you find the success you’re seeking as a business owner, Melissa is here this week to show you why a constant commitment to growth might actually be creating problems in your business that are hard to recover from. Tune in to hear the four byproducts that come from cha…

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006. What Clients Really Want from Lawyers 33:53

5M ago33:53

33:53

When somebody hires a lawyer, what are they really looking for? One mainstay of being an Agile Attorney is delivering customer value consistently, so how do you invest your time and experience in your practice now to create an environment that prioritizes client value in your firm? Discover how you can pivot in your law firm to provide the kind of …

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#246: PSA: Stop Complaining About Your Team 22:16

5M ago22:16

22:16

As a law firm owner, it's easy to fall into the trap of complaining in times of frustration, but expending energy wallowing in problems can have direct, long-lasting negative impacts on your firm. If you’re focused on complaining, you aren’t focused on effective problem-solving. Tune in this week as Melissa outlines exactly how complaining is negat…

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005. Close the Closable: Finding Balance in Your Caseload 28:57

5M ago28:57

28:57

Do you have numerous cases close to being completed but, because they are no longer urgent, they sit among the rest of your work and make you feel overwhelmed by all there is to do? Many firms overlook addressing this common issue as an opportunity to reduce the total amount of work in their system. This week, I’m building on concepts we’ve talked …

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#245: Putting Band-Aids on Problems vs Root Cause Analysis 28:14

5M ago28:14

28:14

Do you take time to investigate the problems that crop up in your law firm? To dig under the surface-level symptoms? Or do you do what's necessary to keep moving forward and stick a pin in them for a later date? Unlike surface-level problem-solving, root cause analysis aims to uncover the root cause of a problem and prevent it from recurring, and i…

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004. Kanban Board Essentials for Lawyers 34:22

5M ago34:22

34:22

There is a wealth of tools out there designed to streamline your workflow, easy to pick up and capable of adapting in countless ways as you master them. A personal favorite of mine is the Kanban board. We'll explore various board types, identifying the one that best meets your practice's needs and pinpointing bottlenecks in your process. You'll lea…

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#244: Mastering Your Time: Prioritizing Your Ideal Week as a Law Firm Owner 22:01

5M ago22:01

22:01

When owners find Melissa, they're often struggling to find enough time for the things that are most important to them. Close relationships, health and wellbeing, the growth of the firm — it's a lot to juggle. How can you begin to use Monday Map/Friday Wrap if you don’t know how to prioritize what’s most important? In this episode, Melissa exposes a…

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003. Finding and Fixing Bottlenecks to Drive Law Practice Efficiency 21:33

6M ago21:33

21:33

Are you hitting roadblocks in your legal delivery systems because of stubborn bottlenecks that disrupt the flow of work? It feels like every new solution out there promises smoother operations, yet often, they just end up shifting the problem elsewhere. In today’s episode, I’m going to guide you through the most effective strategies for getting wor…

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Melissa Shanahan Podcasts

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