As a corporate lawyer, I need to collaborate with others, whether with my team or external parties, while working on corporate deals. I review documents prepared by my team, which also require input from other parties. Similarly, I review documents prepared externally by other parties. My work often depends on my team members and other parties doing their part well. Things may not always run smoothly—personalities clash, and sometimes expectations aren’t met.

I came across Ryan Holiday’s Daily Stoic. In one video, he mentioned something that resonated with me:

“You don’t have to have an opinion on everything. Let the weather be the weather.”

This idea has been a relief for me. Judging others for their perceived shortcomings only adds to my frustration. At the same time, reflecting on the times when I felt that I had been judged unfairly makes me pause and reconsider.

In my role, I’m required to form opinions based on the law and the facts. But beyond the law, I’m trying to accept what I can’t control and focus on what I can. Sometimes, simply acknowledging that everyone is doing their best helps to defuse situations and leads to better working relationships, not to mention peace of mind.

This doesn’t mean lowering standards but rather understanding that my judgments of people and situations might not always be accurate. Learning to separate the person from the situation allows me to focus on solutions rather than frustrations.

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This post first posted on LinkedIn on 7 September 2024.