Senior Partner
At The Stritmatter Firm, we believe in aligning our internal strengths with our mission—Real Justice for Real People. As the partner in charge of professional development, I’ve been using our CliftonStrengths framework and our firm marketing expectations to create personalized SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) that play to the strengths of our team members. Here’s how it’s worked so far:
Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach to marketing, we started by identifying each associate’s top CliftonStrengths. For example, someone with Strategic and Connectedness may be a natural fit for relationship-based networking, while a colleague with Input and Intellection might thrive by writing blogs or building content libraries. We used these insights to guide the type of marketing activity that will feel authentic and sustainable for each person.
For example, a goal for someone with Achiever and Relator might be: “Host two industry-specific roundtable events by December, each with at least five invitees, to deepen referral connections.” For someone with Learner and Individualization, we might set: “Write a four-part blog series on niche practice areas by October 1 to support firm content marketing.”
By making goals measurable and time-bound, we add structure. By making them relevant and achievable, we ensure they move the firm forward without burning anyone out.
This approach honors both the firm’s values and each team member’s unique contributions—helping us build a practice that’s strategic, sustainable, and rooted in who we are.