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Six Common Ways Lawyers Sabotage Their Careers

Lawyers sabotage their careers in many ways and for many reasons. Sometimes you are aware of committing acts of sabotage in the course of your daily work and can take steps to correct your course. But more often it's easier to remain firmly ensconced in your comfort zone than it is to change. Coaching can help prevent career sabotage because it creates the urgency and structure needed to address important, but not yet urgent, issues. Here are the six most common methods of career sabotage I've observed in lawyers.

1. Procrastination. Hands-down, procrastination is the bane of lawyers everywhere, the number one internal obstacle to performance and satisfaction. Why? Because humans naturally avoid that which is scary or unpleasant. And many of the tasks you face fall into one or both of these categories. Procrastination leads to poor performance, unhappy clients, and stress.

2. Perfectionism. Yes, it's good to be thorough and careful in your work because mistakes can be costly to clients (and to you). But too much of a good thing in this case leads to bottlenecks in work flow, missed deadlines, and paralysis. Effective lawyers work to find a happy medium: get the job done well enough for its purpose in a timely fashion. Then move on to the next thing. Perfectionism indicates anxiety, a fear of not doing things "right." Again - a little anxiety is good. A lot leads to paralysis.

3. Neglecting Management and Marketing Skills. In addition to being a noble profession, law is a business. Your business - even if you work for someone else - is what feeds and sustains you and your family. If you neglect taking good care of the business aspects of your practice, your practice can't take care of you. Because business management and marketing are rarely taught in law school, most of you have to learn these skills on the job. They are easy to neglect (see #1), but developing robust business skills is essential to a prosperous and satisfying law career.

4. Staying When You Should Go. Sometimes you know that a job, practice area, or even The Law doesn't match your strengths, abilities, or interests. But you stick with it because you don't know what else to do, or you need the money, or you feel you've invested too much to change course now. Change is usually scary. But if your deepest intuition is telling you to go, you should give the idea serious consideration. Finding someone to talk to who has no investment in your status quo can be very helpful in this situation.

5. Over-Using Substances to Mitigate Stress. Many highly competent and respected lawyers find themselves using increasing amounts of alcohol or other substances to cope with the stresses of everyday practice. Sometimes you can hide heavy substance use or dependence for a long time, and sometimes it doesn't interfere with your work. But sometimes it does. The result can be humiliating, especially when peers, clients, or judges observe behavior you don't see and wish later they hadn't. The problem with addiction (to anything) is that eventually it takes on a life of its own. Addiction is a one-way street to career implosion.

6. Ignoring a Mental Health Issue. Practicing law is stressful. Unremitting stress over time can result in physical problems, but it can also cause depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and relationship problems (to name a few). These issues in turn distract you from your work, or they can even render work impossible. When this happens, you may have difficulty completing projects, doing your best work, or billing appropriately. Unfortunately, a majority of grievances filed against lawyers involve a mental health issue that is not being addressed effectively. This is sad because in many cases the implosion is preventable.

If you recognize symptoms of career implosion in your own life, you are in a powerful position. Addressing career or work problems early and often can keep your career healthy, fresh, and a source of tremendous satisfaction. Working with a professional who is dedicated to your success and happiness can speed the process along or help you get unstuck. If you'd like to schedule a free consultation with Rebecca, or to get help with a referral, call (206)217-5438 today.

 

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.

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