The Link Between Chronic Office Chaos, Stress, Depression & Substance Abuse

When people face depression, drug addictions or other life-enjoyment obstacles, there are, fortunately, many state and local resources available to help them. It's great to have programs to help overcome the consequences of tough times and yet, unfortunately, there's not much "out there" on how to organize and build productive, less stressful and more enjoyable law practices. In addition, law office management and leadership sure wasn't taught in most of our law schools! And, yet, it is so obvious from our ethical grievances, malpractice claims and growing number of unhappy lawyers that the following situations are powerful catalysts of depression, alcohol excess and a painfully disturbing number of other problems:

• little or no pre-planning of case strategies or firm goals
  
• little or weak internal leadership
  
• mismanagement of files and people
  
• ongoing disorganization
  
• high turnover and low office morale
  
• frequent client complaints
  
• lack of time management skills and an excess of
• procrastination know-how
  
• little, if any, true teamwork

The bad news is that the problems listed above are all too common among our profession. The good news, however, is that there is much we can do to help ourselves when it comes to strengthening our offices and decreasing work-related stress.

Some Things I’d Like to Say at the Office, But Had Better Not….

1. "This isn't a law practice…it's hell with fluorescent lighting!"
   
2. "Do I look like a people person?!?"
   
3. "And your crybaby-whiny-as-ever opinion would be…?"
   
4. "Can I trade this job for whatever is behind Door #1?"
   
5. "Nice perfume, but must you marinate in it?"
   
6. "Don't flirt constantly with office staff, talk disrespectfully around them and then act dumbfounded (or innocent!) when the subject of sexual harassment comes up
   
7. "Don't come to work dressed like you're going to a cocktail party and then complain that you're treated differently from other professionals!"
   
8. "Chaos, panic and disorder…just what I went to law school for."
   
9. "Our office is the world's largest natural source of sarcasm!"
   
10. "Is there a sign outside my door that reads "Endless Interruptions Appreciated & Welcome?"
    
11. "Have I thanked you lately for your chronic complaining and negative attitude?"
    
12. "If our cash flow was as big as your ego, we would be enormously rich!"
    
13. "Thank you for being such a jerk; it helps make me look nicer!"
    
14. "I dread coming into this place each day."
    

It's a good thing our thoughts can't be heard or a lot of office folks would probably stay in hot water. We spend most of our time at work where we are faced with many human, technical and management challenges each and every day. Those challenges can reap an enormous amount of stress upon us which, if chronic, can lead many folks down the wrong path in their efforts to escape and find some peace of mind. Doesn't it make sense, therefore, that a lot of our stress could be eliminated (or at least greatly minimized) if only we could get our work and office teams in better sync?

Tough personal issues can infect our lives with huge amounts of stress. Likewise, so do bad office situations. There's no doubt our mental health will suffer if day after day, week after week and year after year we go into a poorly run office where morale stinks and the word "teamwork" is considered an oxymoron. When sick, depressed or struggling to overcome an addiction, efforts are made to find the right medicine, the right therapist, the miracle cure, etc. And yet, far too many people fail to take a hard look within their own offices to see what steps could be taken to end workplace chaos and unhappiness. By failing to do so, they may be missing a critical (and big! piece of the puzzle in their efforts to get their lives back on the right track. The partial listing below of self-help "tools" (by no means all-inclusive!) offers a few ways to get the ball rolling toward a healthier, stronger and friendlier office. These "tools" are for those folks so fed up with the stress at their offices that they are willing to roll up their sleeves and to do their part in restructuring their offices and improving their personal work habits. It is for those, in other words, who are ready to sever (once and for all!) the frightening connection between chronic office problems and depression and/or substance abuse.

Office Strengthening "Tools" & Resources

1. Be willing to take a hard, honest, thorough look at your entire office --its "crew", the equipment, space, design, systems, policies, procedures, clients, marketing, etc.
2. Make simple, but detailed lists of all the pros and cons of each area of your office (what's working, what's not, changes needed, etc.)
3. Create and follow a simple, annual action plan
4. Decide what steps need to be taken and by whom to make the changes needed
5. Make sure all staff members understand what your office mission is… of course, make sure you understand it first!
6. Voice criticisms privately and praise employees openly
7. Ensure the right person with the right background, training and people skills is managing your day to day office administration
8. Provide sufficient training for all employees remembering that different personalities require different teaching methods
9. Make sure all employees understand that a good attitude is just as important as their skills and work-related talents and that a persistent poor attitude may cost them their job
10. Lead by setting good examples and offering support instead of by setting poor examples, making threats and otherwise harsh or better-than-thou actions
11. Treat, value and respect your employees as you would your best client.
12. Give clear instructions and avoid last minute planning whenever possible
13. Review your hiring techniques and take steps to avoid future "bad" hires
14. Update your systems and procedures and avoid the dangerous pitfall of "We've always done it this way so why change now"
15. Have a zero tolerance level for employees who are troublemakers and otherwise, poor team players (no matter how great their skills are!!)
16. Settle all unresolved tensions/conflicts with partners and/or others in your office (remember if you don't demonstrate healthy conflict resolution practices then don't be surprised when other employees follow suit!)
17. Read The Lawyer's Guide to Balancing Life and Work, George W. Kaufman, 1999, ABA/LPM Publishing. To order, call 1-800-285-2221
18. Develop a simple and realistic marketing plan
19. Avoid becoming a "threshold" practice by taking any case that comes in your door; practice smart client selections keeping in sync with your marketing goals
20. Read Strengthening Your Firm: Strategies for Success, Arthur G. Greene, Editor, ABA/LPM Publishing. To order, call 1-800-285-2221
21. Stop procrastinating and/or making promises you can't or won't keep
22. Make a budget and stick to it and hold others accountable to do the same
23. Only make rules that you fairly and consistently enforce
24. Avoid being the "weak link" in your firm's efforts to remain competitive and up to date via smart use of technology
25. Remember it's easy to point out others' faults, but it takes courageous people to take an honest and thorough look at themselves, their work habits and their offices. And…it takes character to face and take the necessary steps to improve and strengthen ourselves and our offices.

What I’d Really Like to Be Able to Say About My Office!

• I'm so lucky to have work worth doing and to love my work."
  
• "It's a wonderful day and I look forward to coming to the office each day!"
  
• "I work with some of the greatest folks on earth!"
  
• "Anyone here would help me out in a pinch when and if needed."
• "We're a diverse bunch of folks, but we make up a great team!"
  

Believe or not, I have heard many lawyers and support staff members say exactly those things. In fact, since taking a "leave of absence" from the practice of law many years ago to work as a law office management consultant and mediator, I have been most fortunate to have heard of and witnessed hundreds of success stories. All of them have motivated and inspired me through the years. Likewise, each of the success stories involve attorneys and staff members who at one time in their careers were stressed out, exhausted and fed up with their work being in control of them instead of their being in control of their work. In many cases, tough realizations were made by folks who faced the fact they were working in the wrong office or with the wrong mixture of personalities for them. However, with a healthy dose of patience, courage, determination and resourcefulness, they all eventually carved out paths that led them to more constructive, productive and happier offices that in turn had tremendously positive effects on their personal lives as well.

You can do the same if you are truly tired of the chaos, disorganization, in-house fighting and bickering that poorly managed people and offices generate. And it's a wonderful feeling knowing that to get the ball moving in the right direction, you don't have to cut through tons of red tape and you don't need a doctor's prescription or therapy sessions. The only thing needed is your commitment and determination to take the ball in your hands and to keep it moving in the right direction. You -- no one else -- are in total charge of when you pick up the ball and run with it.

Chronic office stress and depression, substance abuse and other life stealers are inherently intertwined. There are some excellent programs and other resources for depression, substance abuse problems and the like. And, there are many self-help "tools" to help turn things around in our offices -- if we really want to do so. Isn't peace of mind, a better quality of life and our great legal profession worth the effort? The answer is pretty simple and the choice is indeed ours, thank goodness.

Nancy has written on many other topics through the years for many seminars, office retreats, workshops and publications.  If you are looking for a topic not listed on this page, please let us know what topics are of interest to you.  If Nancy has written on the subject, we will be glad to share a copy with you.  A few more articles by Nancy are listed below:

Lawyers Get Away from it All in the North Carolina Mountains

Leadership, Attorney-Staff Relations
& Simplified Action Planning

The Link Between Chronic Office Chaos, Stress, Depression & Substance Abuse

Take Time to Recharge Your Stress
Management Batteries