setting boundaries to avoid lawyer unhappiness and depletion
Through my training and development work, I’ve met many, many practitioners who feel thoroughly depleted by their lives in the law. I’ve previously discussed possible causes of this widespread lawyer discontent and delved into the economics of lawyer depletion.
In a recent post at his blog Adam Smith, Esq., Bruce MacEwen tips us to one possible cure for what’s ailing lawyers today. The post revolves around this question: Can You Say “No?” MacEwen poses the query to emphasize how some major law firms have learned that defining and honoring the boundaries of their business is key to their profitability and sustainability. As MacEwen sums it up: “Strategy means saying no” [original emphasis].
The same holds true for the individual lawyers who populate these firms and others. We need to know, clearly establish and honor our personal and professional boundaries to avoid the slippery slope to depletion and career dissatisfaction. This means saying “no” to a continuous stream of work that doesn’t lend meaning to our lives; that doesn’t fill us up. It also requires saying "no" to working and interacting with people who are constantly in taking mode – whether they’re colleagues or clients.
In taking MacEwen's observation to the micro level, we can see that, ultimately, it’s up to us to embrace the power of “no” as a vital and viable strategy for optimizing our lives in the law.
