By Nancy Byerly Jones
The Daily Record Newswire
Many law firms are still trying to recover from the economic chaos of recent years. Others are in the midst of other challenges. They may be defending against allegations of ethical violations or malpractice, in shock and grieving over the unexpected death of a co-worker or trying to stabilize after the departure of key employees or partners.
Rough times can sneak up on us with little or no warning, or they can descend upon us after plenty of telltale signs that we choose to ignore. Either way, every staff member, regardless of title, plays a key role when it comes to successfully surviving change.
The starter list below offers 10 essential staff “must do’s” in tough times (and in good times too, for that matter!):
1. Fully comply with all risk management procedures and systems. Remember that ethic grievances and malpractice claims usually rise significantly during economic downturns.
2. If you have the authority to delegate to others, do it! Quit thinking you can do it all by yourself, or that you’re the only one that can do it right, or worst of all, that another employee will do “it” better. If you sport any of those attitudes, you’re wrong on all counts.
3. Say “No” when asked to do a task that only a licensed lawyer should do. Ditto if clients ask you to give them legal advice.
4. Help your firm come up with cost-saving ideas and ways to improve efficiency, build morale, enhance the quality of client services and more. Suggest the firm start a monthly awards program to acknowledge cost-saving and other worthwhile ideas that are suggested (and better yet — actually implemented!)
5. Look for ways you and your co-workers can help each other in and out of the office. How about child or eldercare sitting for one another? Or if you like to cook, prepare freezable meals for co-workers’ families in exchange for their helping you with carpentry projects, repainting a room, making hand-made gifts, etc. If a co-worker has a special family activity she wants to attend, help with her work so she can leave early, even if the tasks are not a part of your job description. Bottom Line, Morale soars (which means productivity does as well), we help each other save money, and it just plain feels good to share our time and talents in helping others.
6. Be empathetic regarding the extra stress on attorneys during tough times (e.g. the financial strain of making payroll when income is down, the loss of great employees from unavoidable down-sizing, retirement or resignations, etc.). And the same is true for your co-workers. Like you, they are feeling the strain of financially tough times or they may have other difficult situations occurring in their lives. Be more tolerant of their occasional snappy moods. Don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions or to take things personally.
7. Share seminar materials that could benefit your firm and clients. Summarize these “lessons” in a memo, or better yet, get permission to conduct a luncheon workshop during which you re-teach a mini-version of the seminar. Share any worthwhile handout materials, and tell all attorneys and staff where the complete set of materials will be kept in case they want to learn more.
8. Share your talents and skills with co-workers. Let go of competitive attitudes or fears that others may appear smarter than you. Think instead about the value to everyone when there’s a team spirit atmosphere instead of an “every man for himself” environment.
9. Mentor someone, and make the time to be mentored! We are never too experienced or old to learn new things, to be guided, to guide, to be coached, to coach, to be encouraged, and to motivate.
10. Attitudes really are highly contagious, so ask yourself often, “Is mine worth catching?” And, if your answer is “No,” immediately ask yourself why that is and begin necessary attitude adjustments pronto!
The best of the best get slack occasionally, but during tough times we can’t afford that option - not if we want our firms (and our jobs) to survive. There are silver linings to be gained when tough times meet up with tougher legal teams: a genuine team spirit, improved efficiency and productivity, cost savings that make a big difference in the bottom line, more empathy and understanding for co-workers, maximization of quality work product, happier clients and the “you-earned-it” pride from staying the course, making any changes needed and successfully surviving the storm.
Former practicing lawyer Nancy Byerly Jones is the author of the ABA’s book “Easy Self-Audits for the Busy Law Office.” A management and solutions coach for attorneys and staff, Byerly also serves as a certified mediator for partner and employee disputes and family law matters. She can be reached at nbj@nbjconsulting.com.
