That Partner

We can all think of "that partner."
 
The one (or more) that we strive to be the opposite of.
 
The one (or more) who made our life difficult.
 
The one (or more) who made us question whether we wanted to leave the law all together.
 
I often say, "Change will come from the bottom."
 
I still believe this.
 
There's a cycle in the law (similar to hazing) that can and should be broken.
 
It's the cycle of "It was hard for me, so it should be hard for you."
 
It's the cycle of "This is how partners treated me, so this is how I'm going to treat you."
 
"That partner" either doesn't realize they're in the cycle or sees the cycle and doesn't think it's worth breaking (or doesn't know how to break it).
 
I refuse to be that partner.
 
I refuse to be a passive participant in this cycle.
 
In fact: I am committed to breaking the cycle.
 
How can we not be "that partner"?
 
My goals and intentions:
 
✌ Extend grace and kindness to others.

✌ Understand that all attorneys are humans and we all make mistakes.

✌ Take the time to teach--don't expect your associates to just know what to do (and listen when they're telling you they need help and more guidance).

✌ Give clear, meaningful instructions.

✌ Be open to questions.

✌ Timely review work.

✌ Follow your own self-imposed, internal deadlines; communicate when timing has gone awry and make adjustments (don't ghost the associate trying to make those deadlines work).

✌ Be reasonable with expected response times.

✌ Be respectful of peoples' lives outside of work.
 
✌ If nothing else: treat others how you wish "that partner" had treated you.
 
How do you strive to not be "that partner"?

#lawyerwellbeing #change #kindness #work #law