legal sanity

Torts. Mold. Waste. Lawyers are no strangers to the subject of toxicity. But, when we consider such noxious forces, it’s easy to overlook some of the most pervasive ones: the people we work with.

I’ve previously written about difficult people in law firms and organizational disrespect in the law. Seth Godin offers his take on the subject in companion posts on toxic employees and toxic bosses. In both, Godin highlights the role that leaders can play in fostering, controlling and remediating workplace toxins. He sums it up well when he states: “Because bosses are often able to define reality, at least for those in their sphere of influence, they can cause whole sections of an organization to go off the rails.”

If you think that complaining is the best way to deal with our toxic coworkers and firm leaders, think again. According to the Chief Happiness Officer, our complaints only make the workplace more toxic. That’s because complaining quickly goes viral, stems innovation and fuels bad relationships.

One possible antidote to this kind of toxicity is positive leadership. Business coach and speaker Anna Farmery highlights this point through a touching personal anecdote about the value of recognition. She aptly conveys how genuinely recognizing people for their efforts and achievements increases positive energy and reduces negative energy in virtually any situation or environment.

For more insight into the dynamics of toxic law firms, you can check out Jean Lipman-Blumen's book, The Allure of Toxic Leaders.