“If I have something that I don’t agree with with one of my partners that I think is important, I’ll contact him, and we’ll talk about it,” Wander says. “Communicate and get it off your chest. You can’t let things build up. That’s a recipe for disaster. We try to be very open with each other and talk things out, should there be a question.”
For instance, if you’re in a management team meeting and someone else on the team says something you don’t like, don’t just bury your disagreement.
“There are times I may call one of my other partners afterward and say, ‘Hey, you made that comment about something. Let’s talk about that a little bit,’” Wander says. “There are times I’ll say, ‘You know what, you were right. I was wrong.’ That’s the opportunity for growth.”
You need to make yourself available for these conversations to take place. For Wander, that means being available on his cell phone or at his home whenever someone needs to talk to him. It may not be convenient, but it comes with the responsibility of being the leader of your business.
“Someone asks me a question, they want it now,” Wander says. “They don’t want to hear about it two days from now.”
When you make yourself available and open your literal and figurative doors to your people and your clients, you encourage your employees to do the same.
“The important part is to have everybody on staff sharing that vision and sharing that passion that I have and that others have to attain that vision,” Wander says. “They are part of that team that is going to help make that vision occur.”
Wander says the reason the firm has been able to grow is that everyone is committed to finding solutions to problems quickly and effectively resolving differences so that business can move forward.
“I need those people to have the confidence in me and the other partners on the management committee that we’re making good decisions and we’re all on the same page and we’re all working toward something together,” Wander says.
How to reach: Kelley, Kronenberg, Gilmartin, Fichtel, Wander, Bamdas, Eskalyo & Dunbrack P.A., (561) 684-5956 or www.kelleykronenberg.com
