How to become a Partner - Part 1

Was asked by a local Snr. Manager what the route to partner is? I felt obliged to give the party line but I was talking bull**** and that the end of the day, it didn't matter whether he met the requirements broadly outlined by the global firm and championed by the tax and people leaderships. 

I have seen a new partners come through and without exception they would be lucky to be be Snr. Managers in any of the other practices globally.  

The only reason they were promoted is that our glorious China tax leader had factored new partners into his so-called glorious "business plan" and his unflinching dedication to ticking the "Barxes" meant that somebody had to go through if it is in the business plan. So, having dispensed with the need for a proper business case we are now left with..... Partner Idol! 

Partner Idol is the perennial jousting among the existing local partners in Hong Kong to get their "running-dog" through! Now this is serious stuff as the partners generally can's stand each other and so really is a bit of one-upmanship as to who get through - lots of face involved!

The more streetwise Snr Managers/Directors who have been with the firm for 12 years or longer know the drill - get your neck as far up your chosen partners backside, work until 2 am every night (including weekends) -while still only charging 8 hrs a day - be so subservient and deferring to your partner god/goddess and worship the air they pass wind on.

So it is quite a contest. But lets get one thing straight, it is not a contest among prospective partners, it is a contest among the existing partners.

The result is predictable, the partners that have come through  are dire, uninspiring, technically inept, socially deficient yes-people who remain dependent and beholden to those that put them there.