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Lawyers who love to coach : an oxymoron, or industry game-changer?

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Lawyers who love to coach : an oxymoron, or industry game-changer?

Outside of law, it seems every profession is having a ‘love-in’ on coaching. Maybe Showtime’s Dr. Wendy Rhoades captured the zeitgeist in the TV hit Billions, but a once-in-a-generation health crisis has helped summon a perfect storm for performance coaches, career coaches, business coaches, leadership coaches, and sales coaches the world over.

In law firms though, coaching is still mostly seen as remedial in purpose. The message sent to lawyers: if you have a problem, you are not delivering, then you can have a coach to ‘fix’ it. Not really a vote of confidence, a perk, an opportunity to maximize your productivity, career, practice, leadership skills or make your millions, like Wendy’s traders at Axe Capital.

But it’s changing, and as someone who has passed through pre-law, law school, legal training, internship, mentoring, and speaks daily to Australia’s finest Partners, I have a working theory about why; lawyering favours those who can synthesise complex information, but the relentless pace of change today is ‘running interference’ with a natural tendency towards perfectionism, and hard deadlines. Post-COVID, directly or indirectly I increasingly hear:

Unlocking Growth Through Small Steps

Unlocking Growth Through Small Steps

In our quest for self-improvement, we often chase after grand transformations, only to find ourselves falling short. However, there's a powerful alternative: embracing small, incremental changes that accumulate over time to yield significant results.

Many of us are driven by a desire to better ourselves, striving to identify and address our weaknesses. It's a noble pursuit, reminiscent of characters like Mr. Spock from Star Trek, where rationality and emotion find a delicate balance. We seek improvement without sacrificing our humanity.

Embracing Habits: A Pathway to Success in Life

Embracing Habits: A Pathway to Success in Life

When it comes to shaping our future, nothing wields more power than our daily habits.

We all have aspirations, big or small, driving us forward in life. Whether it's hitting a financial milestone, shedding a few pounds, or finally penning that novel, setting goals is often the initial step toward manifesting our dreams.

But here's the thing: goals are like destinations on a map, while habits are the routes we take to get there. They're the silent engines driving our daily lives, either propelling us toward success or holding us back.

Elevating Growth Leadership through Coaching: A Comprehensive Overview

Elevating Growth Leadership through Coaching: A Comprehensive Overview

The coaching industry is not just booming; it’s transforming. Expected to reach a value of $27.5 billion by 2026, coaching is proving its worth with each passing year. But what exactly is coaching, and why is it gaining so much traction?

Former general counsel Claire Bibby and former law firm partner Lara Wentworth both left legal practice in 2020 and helped co-found global lawyer coaching outfit Coaching Advocates. They believe the essence of coaching lies in its ability to provide leaders with clarity and focus. As they delve into the topic, three compelling reasons emerge for leaders to embrace coaching:

Discovering Your True Values: Navigating Crisis with Purpose

Discovering Your True Values: Navigating Crisis with Purpose

In the midst of the new economy sparked by the coronavirus outbreak, it’s clear that our values are undergoing a profound test. Yet, within this challenge lies a unique opportunity for self-reflection, reconnection, and yes, perhaps even a bit of bread-making.

This pandemic wasn’t just a health crisis; it's a multifaceted challenge touching on our financial stability, emotional well-being, and social fabric. While it was tempting to retreat and wait for normalcy to return, it allowed us a moment to delve deeper into our identities.

Many of us are realizing that the superficial markers of success we once prized – our possessions, job titles, or addresses – pale in comparison to the intrinsic values that truly sustain us.

Embracing Failure: A Pathway to Growth

Embracing Failure: A Pathway to Growth

Failure, though often feared, is a remarkable teacher. It provides invaluable lessons, shaping our understanding of what works and what doesn't. Rather than waiting for failure to find us, actively seeking it out can equip us with the knowledge to tackle future obstacles more effectively.

Mistakes are our guides. They illuminate the paths we shouldn't take, helping us navigate through challenges with greater wisdom.

In the pursuit of success, failure is an inevitable companion. We meticulously plan, gather resources, and embark on our journey, only to find detours and roadblocks along the way. Yet, these setbacks offer opportunities for growth. Reflecting on our failures allows us to refine our strategies and improve our approach for the next endeavor.

Mastering the Art of Everyday Success

Mastering the Art of Everyday Success

In the journey of life, positioning ourselves for success is key. It's like building a sturdy house—those in a strong position weather storms better than those in weak ones.

But here's the catch: strong positions aren't luck; they're the result of consistent, deliberate choices over time.

You might wonder, if it's that simple, why doesn't everyone do it? Well, the answer lies in the unnoticed nature of these choices. There's no immediate reward for doing right or punishment for doing wrong.

Unlocking Growth: Embracing Open-Mindedness

Unlocking Growth: Embracing Open-Mindedness

Ever wonder why some folks seem to constantly elevate their game while others find themselves trapped in a cycle of repeating mistakes? It's all in the mindset.

Picture this: you encounter something unexpected, a glitch in the matrix of your everyday life. These anomalies, as we call them, are more than just oddities; they're golden opportunities for growth. How you react to these moments speaks volumes about your openness to new ideas.

Closed-minded individuals? They tend to brush anomalies aside, preferring the comfort of their existing beliefs. But the open-minded? They dive in headfirst, hungry to understand. Sure, it's not always easy. Sometimes, it means letting go of cherished notions. But the payoff? It's worth it.