How to deal with your firm’s Dysfunctional Star (without losing your sanity)

How to deal with your firm’s Dysfunctional Star (without losing your sanity)Your Dysfunctional Star is likely to be working on your biggest clients and praised for bringing in new business. But they cast a long negative shadow with their behaviour. In a small business – whether you're running an accountancy practice, a law firm, or a consultancy – this Dysfunctional Star presents a particularly acute challenge. When your team is small, often fewer than 5 to 10 people, the impact of one toxic individual is magnified enormously. They usually control the largest client accounts, and your brain tells you that you can’t afford to lose or antagonise you. It’s as if they have you across a barrel, and you are powerless. Then, worse still, their behaviour doesn't just affect you. It ripples out across your business and can feel like a tidal wave threatening to capsize the boat you're working so hard to build.If you are going to take your business from start-up to grown up, you need some good team members. So, when you find someone who is able to take over from you and do most of the technically complex stuff, the last thing you want to do is exit them. Or even risk upsetting them. It’s then incredibly tempting to overlook their sharp edges, the dismissive comments, and their refusal to follow the systems you know are essential for scaling beyond just yourself. You tell yourself, "Their billable time is fantastic," or "Clients ask for them specifically," or "Finding a replacement in this market would be a nightmare."This is what this podcast episode is about.This episode explores:- What does a Dysfunctional Star look like in a small firm?- The hidden costs of a Dysfunctional Star- How to spot the signs of a Dysfunctional Star- How to manage and, if necessary, exit a Dysfunctional StarWelcome to a free podcast episode of Start Up To Grown Up: Your source for ideas, insights and tactics to take back control of your business and scale it sustainably and profitably by Heather Townsend, award-winning author of The Accountants’ Millionaires’ Club and Founder of The Accountants’ Growth ClubEach episode of the Start Up To Growth Up Podcast is based on my weekly Substack Article on the same topic. Head over to my substack to subscribe https://substack.com/@startuptogrownup so you never miss an article or episode again. Get full access to Start Up To Grown Up at startuptogrownup.substack.com/subscribe