“Carrying out the responsibilities of a CEO in a professional service firm is exceptionally challenging because the position lacks the inherent power and control that CEOs of traditional companies enjoy.”
This article is an excerpt from Aligning the Stars: How to Succeed When Professionals Drive Results, published by Harvard Business School about the challenges inherent in a professional services environment. The book looks like a worthwhile read, and the Q&A (on the right-hand column of the HBS page) with author Jay Lorsch is excellent. I’ve ordered my copy already.