Many years ago, I walked into a junior colleague’s cubicle and saw him “buried” amidst stacks of documents. There were piles of documents stacked on the floor, spilled across his desk, and lined the shelves. He smiled while we chatted, but I could see he was stressed. That image stayed with me.

I’ve heard stories of junior lawyers having to meet tight deadlines without proper guidance from their supervising partners or other senior lawyers. I want to do better.

When I lead a file, I ensure the team has clear instructions. I guide them in breaking down tasks, anticipating potential issues, and planning ahead. However, I’ve wondered whether there could be too much guidance. Could it make the team overly reliant on the supervising partner instead of solving issues themselves?

I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw the image of a weightlifting hamster in an article titled “To Help Your Team Grow, Give Them Space to Struggle” by Kelli Thompson on Harvard Business Review (link below).

I learned that stepping in every time a team member struggles may be counterproductive. Giving the team member the space to try different methods and solve issues independently may be more beneficial. This approach allows them to develop their problem-solving skills as well as ownership over their work.

https://hbr.org/2023/07/to-help-your-team-grow-give-them-space-to-struggle

This post first posted on LinkedIn on 18 July 2024.