10 insider secrets to leverage a team leader for growth, profit, and balance
On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley talks with Emily Sorbi about how law firms break through growth ceilings by developing a strong team leader. Emily rose from the front desk to Director of Operations and now manages a team of 30 across multiple states. Her story shows what happens when owners invest in values-driven talent and give them the tools to lead.
Emily shares ten insider secrets for building leverage through people, systems, and standards so lawyers can focus on revenue work. You will hear how to empower a team lead publicly, set daily check-ins that keep work moving without micromanagement, and protect high performers from burnout. She explains why team leads should not own client files, how to shift them into growth and efficiency projects, and how to handle mistakes without derailing momentum.
The conversation gets practical on decision rights and transparency. Emily walks through involving your team lead in hiring, promotions, benefits, and tough personnel calls, including when a high-output but toxic team member needs to go. She also makes the case for giving your team lead access to budgets and key financials so they can make smarter staffing and compensation decisions, even if that transparency feels uncomfortable at first.
For owners wondering where to find a team lead, Emily explains why hiring for values and developing internally outperforms bringing in outsiders cold. If you are a firm owner or a rising team lead, this is a practical playbook for scaling with accountability, trust, and clear roles.
Team Leader Workshop at The Summit!
If you’re ready to develop your team leader, join us in Orlando for The Summit 2025 (Nov 6–7). Lead by Patti Paz, this Day 2 workshop maps directly to this episode and gives you tools to execute now. Details here: Team Leader Advantage: Growing Yourself, Growing Your Law Firm. (Use code PAZ200 for $200 off)
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Inside This Episode
- Emily Sorbi’s path from front desk receptionist to Director of Operations of a multi-state law firm
- Ten proven secrets to effective team leadership and breaking growth barriers
- Balancing professional roles and personal life as a wife and mother
- Involving team leads in strategic decision-making and financial transparency
- Developing internal talent and nurturing future leaders through mentorship programs
- Empowering team leads with authority, accountability, and protection from burnout
- Building trust and accountability within teams to enhance law firm operations and growth
