Summer is winding down. Kids are back to school. School zone lights are back on. There are new teachers, new classrooms, new schedules, new expectations and, hopefully, new opportunities to learn and grow.
This seasonal change got me thinking about our careers.
When was the last time you asked yourself if you are still in the right “classroom”?
I have spent more than 35 years working in and around the legal profession, and today I can work with attorneys from two very different perspectives – as a life coach and as a recruiter.
And one thing I’ve learned is that you can be a very good attorney at a very good firm – and still be in the wrong room.
You can work hard, meet your deadlines, bill your hours, take care of your clients and do everything that is expected of you – and still have that nagging feeling that something isn’t quite right.
- Maybe you’ve outgrown your role;
- Maybe you’re not learning anymore;
- Maybe you’re not getting the mentorship or opportunities you expected;
- Maybe the path you thought you were on doesn’t look as appealing as it once did.
Or maybe you can’t even put your finger on what’s wrong. You just know you’re not as happy as you used to be.
Consider:
Are You Still Learning?
Think about school for a moment. We expect students to move forward every year. The work becomes more challenging. They learn new things. They develop new skills.
Shouldn’t we expect some of the same things from our careers?
Ask yourself: “Am I still learning?”
- Are you being exposed to more sophisticated work?
- Are you developing skills that will make you more valuable five years from now?
- Are you getting opportunities to lead, develop business, work directly with clients or take on greater responsibility?
Being busy isn’t necessarily the same as growing.
It’s very easy in the legal profession to become so focused on the work in front of you that you don’t stop to consider where that work is taking you.
What About the Teacher?
We’ve probably all had a teacher who brought out the best in us – and maybe one who didn’t.
The same thing happens in our careers.
The partner, supervisor or leader you work with can have an enormous impact on your professional development.
- Are you receiving feedback?
- Is someone invested in your growth?
- Are you being challenged in a productive way?
- Do you have someone you can learn from?
This doesn’t mean your boss has to be your mentor or that every working relationship will be perfect. But if you consistently feel unsupported, overlooked or unable to grow, it’s worth asking whether that “classroom” is still serving you.
Are You Moving Forward – or Just Staying Busy?
This is a big one for attorneys.
You’re working. You’re billing. You’re answering emails. You’re meeting deadlines. Another month goes by. Then another year.
But where are you actually going?
What are you working toward?
- Partnership?
- Leadership?
- Building a book of business?
- More sophisticated matters?
- Better compensation?
- Greater flexibility?
- An in-house position?
- Your own practice?
There isn’t one right answer.
The important thing is that the answer is yours.
Sometimes we become so busy building a successful career that we forget to ask whether we’re building the career we want.
Maybe the Classroom Isn’t the Problem
This is where my coaching and recruiting worlds often intersect.
When someone is unhappy at work, it’s easy to assume the answer is to leave.
Sometimes it is.
But not always.
Before you decide that you need a new job, take some time to look at what isn’t working.
- Are you overwhelmed because of the environment – or because you haven’t established boundaries?
- Are you frustrated about advancement – but haven’t communicated what you want?
- Are you waiting for someone to give you opportunities that you may need to ask for?
- Are you unhappy with your workload – or do you need better systems for managing it?
- Are you feeling stagnant because there aren’t opportunities available or because you’ve stopped pushing yourself outside your comfort zone?
A new job can provide a fresh start, but it won’t automatically fix habits, patterns or expectations that you take with you.
That’s why I think it’s important to do the internal work before making the external move.
Before You Change Classrooms…
Ask yourself one question:
What would need to change for me to be happy and continue growing where I am?
Be specific. Maybe it’s more client contact. Better mentorship. A clearer path to partnership. Different types of matters. More flexibility. Better compensation. More autonomy. A healthier culture.
Then ask the harder question:
Can those things realistically happen where I am?
If the answer is yes, perhaps you don’t need a new job.
- You may need a conversation.
- You may need to set better boundaries.
- You may need to advocate for yourself.
- You may need a clearer career plan.
- You may need to make some changes in how you’re approaching your work.
But if you’ve identified what you need and realize that your current environment simply can’t provide it, that’s valuable information too.
It doesn’t mean you have to resign tomorrow.
It means it may be time to understand what else is out there.
Don’t Stay Just Because You Know Where Your Desk Is
There’s comfort in familiarity.
You know the people.
You know the systems.
You know what’s expected of you.
You know where you stand.
And changing jobs involves uncertainty.
But comfort and fulfillment aren’t always the same thing.
On the other hand, don’t leave simply because another firm promises something new and exciting. A different classroom isn’t automatically a better classroom.
Know what you’re looking for before you start looking.
That’s where having a clear understanding of your goals becomes so important.
Your Back-to-School Assignment
So, in honor of back-to-school season, I’m giving you a little homework.
Set aside 15 minutes and answer these five questions:
- Am I still learning and growing where I am?
- Is my current environment helping me become the attorney I want to be?
- Do I know what I want the next three to five years of my career to look like?
- What would need to change for me to be happier and more fulfilled where I am?
- Can those changes realistically happen here?
You don’t need to make a major career decision today.
You just need to start asking the right questions.
Back-to-school season reminds us that growth requires learning, challenge and the right environment.
So, before the year gets away from you, ask yourself:
Am I still in the right classroom for the person – and the professional – I want to become?
P.S. Ready to stop searching for purpose and start choosing it? Let’s talk. Book a consult — email us at info@coralgablescounseling.com or call 305-445-0477, and we’ll map out what intentional living can look like for you.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The legacy of a year is written not in milestones, but in the relationships we tended along the way.”
Emy Fernandez, MBA, Certified Life Coach
