If you’re struggling with your level of self-confidence at work, know that you’re not alone. A lack of confidence is an extremely common challenge among professionals in the legal profession, and I see it holding my clients back from going after what they truly want. 

 

Maybe you hold a vision in your mind’s eye about what being a lawyer is like. The practice of law is important, and there’s a certain level of reverence offered to lawyers because of the nature of our work. The quintessential lawyer might be noble, wise, forthright, and otherwise perfect, but holding on to this image might be fueling your self-doubt.

 

Where in your life and practice are you having thought loops that don’t seem to land anywhere concrete? What is it that’s currently bringing up an overpowering feeling of overwhelm? And how are both overthinking and overwhelm keeping you stuck?

 

If the habit of overthinking and the feeling of overwhelm seem like common challenge for you, you are not alone. The truth is, they often go hand-in-hand, and we’ve all had our fair share of this experience. Whether in or out of your practice, this pairing can often feel like a huge wall between us and what we ultimately want. This week, I’m sharing my favorite strategies to help you stop overthinking and tackle overwhelm. 

 

How often do you find yourself struggling to make a decision? Does it feel like there are equal costs and benefits no matter which direction you choose to go? Are you looking outside of yourself for the answers?

 

We get all sorts of inputs from the society we live in about how we should be living our lives. There is no shortage of opinions that seem to have the utmost right answers, so if you assume other people must know something you don’t or that you’ll find the answers if you just search long enough, you are not alone. However, it might not have occurred to you that the answer you’re looking for is one you already possess.

 

Where in your life and career do you struggle with your levels of confidence? A lack of confidence is a topic that comes up often in my work, and while it’s not labeled as such in all situations, my clients find there are moments where they feel frozen with self-judgment or discomfort around certain decisions moving forward.

 

The truth is, even the most confident lawyers have rough days where they feel riddled with self-doubt. Confidence is a nebulous thing, and you might experience more or less of it in various environments, with different people, or in various work tasks. Feeling a 10 out of 10 in confidence is not the goal here. The key is in the process of defining, measuring, and increasing your confidence levels.

 

Does achieving some goals feel effortless and easy, while others seem impossible? Why is it that some goals feel simple to create a plan for and follow through on, and yet, you also find yourself failing to take action on other goals? 

 

The truth is, there is no shortage in terms of knowing what we need to achieve our goals, no matter the area of life they’re based on. The real problem when it comes to goal setting is in taking the actions required to create the results we want. If you often find yourself experiencing unpredictable and inconsistent results when it comes to goal setting, you’re in the right place.

 

How often do you notice that voice in your head that tends to have an extremely negative narrative? Some people refer to it as negative self-talk, while others call it the inner critic. However you relate to this concept, chances are you’ve had at least a few interactions with yours.

 

If you identify that your inner critic is running the show and you haven’t fully investigated it, examining it closely can seem scary and overwhelming. However, or whenever, your inner critic manifests for you, the underlying message it offers is often about how you don’t deserve a break or how you’ll never be enough no matter what you do. But the truth is your inner critic isn’t bad, it’s just trying to protect you.

 

What comes to mind for you when you think about networking? 

 

I’ve come across a number of lawyers and law students who have very different views about what networking entails. For some, they’re excited and can’t wait for the opportunity to meet new people. For others, they associate it with business cards and awkward conversations. Wherever you land on the spectrum, the truth is networking is relevant at all stages of your legal career, and I’m showing you how to navigate your next event with greater confidence and ease.

 

The topic of self-advocacy is one that’s especially important for women lawyers to consider. It’s a challenge that comes up often for my clients who are incredible advocates for everyone else in their lives but struggle to advocate for themselves. 

 

Whether it’s setting boundaries, charging your full rate, or anything else, the truth is you are a professionally trained advocate. You advocate for your clients, your children if you have them, and you may even be advocating for people you don’t know well. Now, it’s time to use those skills to begin harnessing your innermost powerful advocate.

 

Do you ever wonder why things seem to run much more smoothly when you’re busy? Why do you easily knock things off your to-do list with precision and efficiency in periods of busyness? And why does it feel extra challenging to get things done when there isn’t the same sense of urgency?

 

If you have trouble getting focused when things in your practice slow down or when there isn’t an immediate time pressure, you are not alone. This is a real challenge that lawyers and other professionals experience when it comes to time management. The truth is, there’s a simple reason why we can’t be productive or motivated to take action unless there’s urgency, and this week, I’m showing you how to recalibrate your sense of urgency to flip the power dynamic.

 

Do you feel like you’re currently in a position that, deep down, you know isn’t right for you? Maybe you know that there’s no future for you in your current career trajectory, and yet, for some reason, you decide to stay. How can you make the best of this kind of situation? Is it possible to thrive, regardless of whether you stay or make a move?

 

This is an experience that resonates with a number of lawyers I speak with. They find themselves in jobs they’re no longer passionate about but decide to stay, and it leaves them feeling stuck. There are a few reasons why a job you previously loved might no longer be a great fit, but my goal this week isn’t to persuade you to make a move. Instead, I’m helping you own your decisions and manage this experience in a proactive way.