If you’ve ever struggled to balance kindness with being an effective leader, you are not alone. In an effort to lead kindly, many lawyers I’ve coached have tried to counter the harsh, unsupportive, or unavailable mentorship they experienced by swinging too far in the other direction. The truth is, this can create uncertainty and stifle your team’s growth.

 

This week, I explore three common beliefs about kindness that may be standing in your way and show you how to challenge them, especially if they’re making leadership difficult for you. The key lies in finding the right balance between being an effective authority and embracing kindness, and I show you how in this episode.

 

Do you struggle with managing your time effectively as a lawyer? Do you feel like there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done? Whether you want to make partner or transition out of the profession entirely, the truth is you won’t achieve your goals unless you know how to effectively use your only finite resource: time.

 

I’m joined by two returning guests on this week’s show, Adriana Paris and Allison Wolf. Adriana is the author of Rising Lawyer and Director of Professional Development and Legal Recruiting at Rissmann Law. Allison is the founder of The Lawyer Coach and has over 20 years of experience coaching lawyers. They’re here to share how they help other lawyers transform their productivity, and the strategies that actually work.

 

Whether you’re a senior lawyer formulating strategies to grow your practice, a junior lawyer learning the ropes, or someone who wants to be more proactive in increasing your profile as a lawyer, consistently prioritizing business development is key. However, many lawyers neglect this area until it becomes urgent.

 

As your practice grows, business development becomes an essential pillar alongside your substantive legal skills and practice management abilities. If you find that business development is something you know you should engage in but have been putting off, listen in to discover a number of ways to be selective and stay focused on your business development activities.

 

Have you ever been curious about what it’s really like to work as an in-house lawyer? Do you wonder if your strengths perhaps lie elsewhere within the realm of law? Is it possible to curate a legal career that allows you to follow your interests without being in private practice?

 

This week, I’m joined by former General Counsel at high-growth companies and founder of Lexgo and The GC Collective, Paula Pépin. If you’re considering making a career transition or even leaving law, you’re going to resonate with Paula’s story. Paula shares her journey from private practice to going in-house, and eventually to coaching and consulting, and she’s here to pull back the curtain on her experience.

 

Do you ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done? As lawyers, I know your to-do lists can seem never-ending, leading to stress, overwhelm, and even a lack of motivation. But what if there were simple strategies you could implement to save time and boost your productivity?

 

While it can be tempting to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way, being more discerning about what you take on is crucial for managing your time effectively. If you’re ready to learn how to optimize your workday with practical routines and rituals you can start implementing today, you’re in the right place.

 

Do you ever find yourself standing in front of your closet, staring at the blazers, button-down shirts, skirts, pantsuits, and dress pants, telling yourself that you have absolutely nothing to wear? If you can relate, you are not alone, and you are absolutely in the right place.

 

Estelle Winsett is a lawyer turned professional stylist for women lawyers. She describes this pivot as a summation of all the different types of careers she’s had, with the common thread of empowering women through their personal style. If you’re ready to reconnect with your personal style and learn how to curate an intentional wardrobe that makes you feel amazing, listen in.

 

Do you ever feel trapped by your job as a lawyer? Whether it’s the amount of work on your plate, limitations in your role, or simply the lack of time for anything else, I know how frustrating and demoralizing it can feel. In today’s episode, I’m diving deep into what it really means to feel trapped in your legal career and offering concrete strategies to help you gain clarity, take back control, and start feeling better.

 

We explore the common reasons why lawyers end up feeling stuck and how this “trapped” mindset can become a self-fulfilling prophecy that keeps you in a negative loop. But don’t worry, I’ve got you! I’m arming you with powerful tools to break free, manage your expectations, investigate other opportunities, and reclaim your autonomy.

 

Does prioritizing your well-being feel like one more thing you don’t have time for? Do you frequently tell yourself that not feeling great is just the reality of practicing law and that this is what you signed up for? How could it be possible for you to advance your career, prioritize the things that are most important to you, and incrementally improve your well-being at the same time?

 

Joan Parsons Ziady spent 30 years in private practice at a national US law firm before founding Winslow Workplace Advisors, where she now helps lawyers and law firms advance professional development while fostering connection and well-being. Having experienced the pressure points of practicing law firsthand, she created the well-being roadmap she wished she had as an associate for working smarter and feeling better.

 

If there was one thing you could change about yourself, your practice, or your life, what would it be? What kind of impact would making that transformation have? And what’s currently keeping you from making that change?

 

Tomorrow marks our first call inside my new six-month group mastermind program, which has me thinking about transformation and the meaningful changes that can be accomplished in six months. The sneaky thing about transformation is that while other people might see it, you often don’t. That’s why, this week, I’m giving you a framework that will help you evaluate and measure your progress so you don’t find yourself at the end of your journey unable to appreciate just how much you’ve transformed.

 

Do you identify as a perfectionist? If so, are you aware of where and how it’s holding you back?

 

If your perfectionistic tendencies are keeping you stuck in inaction, paralyzed by the fear of the unknown, obsessing over tasks that have diminishing returns, or spending time on projects that don’t align with your broader goals, I have great news for you this week. The Pareto Principle is a powerful antidote to lawyer perfectionism, and I’m showing you why it’s so effective and how you can apply it to your practice right now.