Dr. Rebecca Nerison

Services

Resources

FAQs

Confidentiality and Privacy

Home / Articles

Problem Partners

You know who we're talking about. He or she is the partner in the firm who is creating problems for everyone else. Maybe it's a performance issue: the quality or quantity of his work is not meeting reasonable expectations. Or perhaps it's a behavior problem: she acts abusively toward staff or colleagues, causing high turnover and low morale. Or maybe the problem feels more elusive: something is wrong, but you can't quite put your finger on it.

Law partners can become problematic for many reasons, and law firms frequently are at a loss as to how to deal with them. Since lawyers usually aren't trained in management skills or mental health issues, this is understandable. However, such problems don't go away by themselves, and they may even become the cause of a firm's eventual implosion.

I've observed that problem partners usually fall into two categories: under-functioning due to a mental health issue (imploding); or poor interpersonal behavior (exploding).

If you observe decrements in a partner's performance, a mental health problem is a likely suspect. Many lawyers struggle with depression, anxiety, relationship problems, or addictions, among other things. They are likely to keep their struggles a secret, however, because they believe they can't afford to admit to themselves or to others that a problem exists. After all, lawyers are bright, rational people who solve others' problems. If a personal problem doesn't lend itself to a ready solution, they are likely to feel ashamed and hide it, allowing it to fester.

The truth will out, however, and it does so usually in the form of observable "symptoms" that, taken together, constitute the problem behavior.

The most common symptoms of the imploding category include procrastination, missing deadlines, attendance problems, unreturned telephone calls, unopened mail, social withdrawal and isolation, dereliction of duties, and client complaints. (You may recognize some of these symptoms as the root of bar complaints, as well.)

Poor interpersonal behavior is can be easier to spot than a mental health issue in that it usually involves "exploding." The partner develops a reputation for behaving in a manner that could be characterized as angry, hostile, controlling, threatening, or manipulative. The recipient of this behavior typically feels used, abused, and misunderstood. The partner may demonstrate smooth social skills when she wants to, or he could be socially inept - clueless about the destructive impact of his behavior on others.

Whether the issue involves imploding or exploding, the Problem Partner's behavior causes problems for the entire firm. Staff time is consumed in efforts to compensate for the imploding partner or in coping with the upset and chaos that surrounds the exploding partner. Morale plummets, turnover rises. To make matters worse, the Problem Partner's peers don't know what to do. They may turn a blind eye, throw money at the problem, or make ineffectual stabs at addressing the issue.

Professional service firms are known as much for their weakest link as their strongest partner. If your firm harbors a Problem Partner, you could be risking your firm's reputation and market share.

So why not address the Problem Partner problem? Your firm could enjoy improved morale, lower turnover, happier clients, and improved productivity. Call me to schedule a free consultation about the particular issues facing your firm. If I can't help you, I'll assist you in finding someone who can.

 

Make a free, no-obligation appointment. Contact Rebecca at Life Counsel for Legal Professionals today. For a free consultation call (206) 217-5438 or email.

Home | Dr. Rebecca Nerison | Services | Resources | FAQs | Confidentiality and Privacy