In her legal career Charlene had never encountered a challenge that stoic hard work and determination couldn’t beat. After severe abdominal pain forced her to the hospital’s emergency ward she returned to her office to finish an assignment despite the blindingly brutal pain. Months later she discovers that during this time the partner she reports to had found numerous flaws, typos and weaknesses in her work and had told her colleagues that she had grave concerns about Charlene’s legal abilities.
Sound familiar? As a coach I have come across numerous cases of lawyers facing health challenges and choosing to continue to work while keep their secret under wraps. These professionals are not workaholics. They are simply choosing to stick with a success strategy that has served them well throughout their lives but under these new circumstances leads them to failure.
The fact is, when we are under severe stress, high levels of pain, or suffering a head injury, our cognitive functioning is likely impaired. Working under these conditions is often a mistake and a disservice to our health, professional reputation, client relationships and relationships with our colleagues.
All of the individuals I know who have attempted to work through a major health or other crisis have told me that in retrospect it was a mistake.
I am writing this article to urge lawyers, male and female, to take some time off when the going gets tough.
To read this article in full click here.
