Psychological Safety in Firms

We talked recently about how some of the most recent surveys of attorney well-being looked at psychological safety as well as just stressors and traditional well-being metrics. Psychological safety means an environment where an individual feels comfortable asking questions and voicing their opinions, where they aren’t afraid to make mistakes, and where they can be there most authentic self.

Looking at psychological safety is an important step forward in the on-going discussion of well-being in the legal profession. It looks beyond the individual to the environmental factors that might be impacting their mental health. It also leads to a crucial discussion point; which is a discussion of what firms can do better when it comes to creating psychological safety.

The answer is the firms need to look at an associate not just as a cog in their firm’s machinery, but a unique individual who deserves to be treated as a person first and allowed to be their most authentic self. They need to recognize that associates, partners, law clerks, paralegals, and everyone else on their team is human and are going to make mistakes from time to time, and that it is safe to do so.

It also means that associates should be allowed to have a dialogue with their supervising attorneys and partners. While associates might still be learning and growing as attorneys, that doesn’t mean they aren’t without value. Allowing to voice their opinions takes full advantage of the value they bring to the firm. Even if the senior attorneys go in a different direction, allowing them the ability to speak up will make them feel more included, and explaining and responding to them with respect will likewise help them learn and grow within the firm.

And this is an important point. Creating an atmosphere of psychological safety creates a two-way benefit. Yes, it benefits the associate and their mental health. However, it also makes them a better attorney and strengthens the entire firm. This would reduce one of the trends we are seeing, which is that there is still considerable burnout and turnover happening within big firms. That doesn’t have to be the case.

If you are a managing partner at a firm interested in how to create psychological safety in your firm, know that we are here to help you do that, while also offering peer support to your associates. Email info@thelegalmindsociety.org for more information.