Autonomy: celebrated by individuals, but it weakens partnerships’ branding and practice building.

Professional service firm partners often tend to think and act as autonomous business units first, members of a coherent unified group second. Lip service, yes. Full out team commitment, not so much. Autonomy is in many ways a plus, of course. Each partner knows her strongest practice area, and can pursue clients whose needs match those strengths. Fine. But autonomy …