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Candor – A Key toward Resolving Issues Negatively Affecting Your Practice

The practice of law is extremely demanding, and research indicates, the levels of substance abuse and mental health issues is highest among attorneys. Due to the stress of the work, it permeates every aspect of a lawyer’s life, placing heavy and constant demands on the individual. A study of 12,825 licensed, employed attorneys, showed a prevalence of substance abuse and mental health issues. The study in the Journal of Addiction Medicine (2016,) found 20.6% of participants reported problem with drinking with those in private firms reporting the highest level. Drug abuse showed 20.9% of respondents showing intermediate levels of use. Regarding mental health issues, 28% reported problems with depression, 19% with anxiety and 23% problems with stress. With the frequency of these issues, how is a firm able to serve its clients appropriately, attain more clients, or retain those they currently serve?

The long, irregular hours and constant pressure to meet the needs of the client and firm makes it difficult for an attorney to maintain a work-life balance. Don’t forget your staff either as they are exposed to many of the same stressors lawyers encounter and are the ones who often see the “unfiltered” version of the lawyer’s personality when pressures increase.

A key to reducing the stigma of attorneys seeking help is creating a workplace culture where it is safe to discuss these problems openly. For this to happen, leaders need to candidly communicate with all employees regarding these life-threatening issues.  Your organization needs to have a caring culture that supports recovery not silence.  Is your firm or practice one which allows candor to disclose and address issues head-on, or is it one that chooses to turn a blind eye on these devastating issues?

The ideologies, rules and policies form the organization’s culture. Some of these are written and some are indicated through the behaviors of the leadership. Effective communication is essential for a healthy workplace environment and plays an important role in increasing the comfort of the employees. The only way to minimize burnout and reduce issues of mental health and substance abuse is for leadership to play an active role in minimizing the stigma by addressing the elephant in the room.  If you want to do what is right, not only for your employees, but clients as well, the culture needs to be supportive and open communication needs to take place to address these issues.

Create a Healthy Environment: Expecting employees to work 80 hours a week and constantly contacting them during off hours can dramatically increase the stress experienced by the person. A recent conversation with an attorney stated that younger lawyers focus more on work-life balance, and it is a good thing. “We used to be here until 7:30 most nights and on the week-end as well.” It may be looked down by more seasoned professionals but finding ways to promote good health will in the long run better serve your clients and your firm.

Educate: According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 1 in 5 people suffer from some form of mental illness. Often people are unaware that what he or she is experiencing is a mental health issue and they suffer in silence. By helping employees recognize the symptoms of these conditions you can improve their ability to get help.

Employee Assistant Services: An employee assistance program (EAP) is a work-based intervention program to assist employees in resolving personal problems that may be adversely affecting their ability to perform. EAPs offer confidential help to deal with not only substance abuse and mental health, but other issues such as eldercare, childcare and relationship challenges.

Preventive Strategies: A lack of meaning is a key driver of burnout. By helping attorneys remember the noble purpose of their work, and show examples of cases that positively impacted their client, you can help refocus their energy.

To be a good attorney, one has to be healthy. Sadly, unhealthy coping mechanisms affect attorney’s ability to function. With the law profession experiencing dwindling market share, there needs to be innovation in how to deal with these issues that affect your organization’s ability to attract and meet client’s needs. Only through creating a culture which allows people to feel safe about discussing these challenges can they get the help they need. If you want your younger employees to have a desire to become partners or take on leadership roles, things must change and it will be a win-win for the organization, employee and especially your clients.

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Beth has been working with our organization this year and the results of her work have been nothing short of remarkable! Beth’s warm and engaging personality lent itself …to quickly garner a level of trust that allowed for significant input from the staff – all of which has been valuable in promoting new levels of communication and accountability within the team itself. This has been an especially enlightening experience for our team and one that has brought with it insight and skill building well beyond what I initially imagined when we embarked on this journey. I can say with confidence, respect, and gratitude that Beth Sears is a coach, mentor, educator and consultant all in one incredibly valuable package of professionalism. I encourage you to consider enlisting her expertise as you seek support in taking the next best step for your organization. You will be glad you did!
Kelly A. Reed | CEO | Huther Doyle
The courses you presented were wonderfully presented and had an immediate effect on my staff. It was evident from the beginning that these are topics you believe in and were able to communicate honestly and effectively with us. Every participant from SIDDSO had positive things to say about the program and most importantly how well you presented it. Based on your seminar and all the positive feedback I heard, I will be recommending your services to others who ask me about effective training that may help other organizations in this area. I also hope we will be able to use your services again in the future.
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Claire Fisher | CEO | Fisher Associates
Beth conducted communication training for our front-line supervisors and was very thoughtful in her approach by collecting information on our goals for the training. As a 3-shift facility, she accommodated our various shifts, and even a major snowstorm did not stop her from delivering the training. The feedback from our managers/supervisors was the program was excellent. They learned and had fun doing it. The sessions were very interactive and relative to our business and incorporated company specific examples which helped base the training in reality. Beth was very professional and positive, and I would recommend her for any type of communication training!
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Her demeanor and her style put everyone at ease and the conversations start to flow and with Beth’s direction we started moving in a positive direction.”
James Sydor | President | Sydor Optics, Inc.
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Kathy Richmond | Sr. Director, Human Resource Services | Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce
Beth is easy to work with and really cares about helping people improve their interpersonal communications. Her straightforward and direct manner was not only effective but pleasant at the same time. You didn't have to guess at what she is trying to convey, good or bad.
Michael Naselaris | Director of Business & Corporate Development | Sydor Optics, Inc.
I am thoroughly comfortable recommending Beth Sears to work with your company. Her analysis of the opportunities for improvement; obtaining valuable input from employees and her ability to work within all levels of a corporation is unmatched. Her integrity is beyond reproach.
Richard G. Phelps | Owner | Allen-Bailey Tag & Label, Inc.
Beth managed to turn what I envisioned as another dreary training session into, not only an educational awakening, but an eye opening enlightenment of what may be to come and how we might better deal with the future. Keeping the group openly engaged with material that we all were currently involved with opened opportunity for each of us to better understand some different perspectives with not only those we supervise, but also with all who we interact with on a daily basis.
Sharon Ceurter | BorgWarner
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Steven M. Chizuk | Director of Budget | Erie County Medical Center Corporation
Beth Sears has been an adjunct faculty member with Cornell University’s ILR School since 1993. During this time, she has taught a wide variety of college credit courses and training sessions related to workplace communication and interpersonal behavior…Thanks to Beth’s teaching skills, hundreds of working people in Upstate New York are now better able to manage their anger, interview for new positions, resolve interpersonal conflict, lead groups, and convey their intended message. In my 25 years with ILR extension, I have never worked with a more effective instructor than Beth Sears.
Linda H. Donahue | Senior Extension Associate | Cornell University ILR School
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise with our members. We are so grateful to have a caliber of talents such as your self enhance our slate of programs.
NHRA Board, Rochester, NY
I have found Dr. Sears to be ethical, sincere and focused on the honesty it takes to follow through with a quality service from concept to completion. She is a professional and is able to be compassionate for the purpose of presenting the best product available.
Kenneth Siegel | Deputy for Prison Programs | Rural Opportunities, New York Division
Ms. Sears has an uncanny ability to listen, and to analyze a situation – her suggestions were organized, straightforward and on point. I am very grateful for her assistance and would not hesitate to recommend her services to any company or individual seeking conflict resolution or effective communication training.
Barbara Bird | Senior Program Manager | VESID Facilitated Application Program
You got rave reviews on our evaluations – overwhelmingly rated “excellent" in every category. Comments included: • Beth is awesome! Great lady – time well spent! • Very down to earth and refreshing. • The class exceeded my expectations
Joan Collins Lambert | Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations
I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed watching you work on Wednesday morning at Locust Hill. I don’t see very many people as accomplished as you are working with a group of total strangers and keeping them as fully engaged as they were this morning. Both Jim and I agree we would be privileged to have you work with us at some point, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Mike Cook | Founding Partner | Vital Works, Inc.
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