You wake up at your law firm office, exhausted from yesterday’s work. The realization hits you: you’ve spent another night at the office, overworking for the nth time. You check your phone, only to find 35 missed calls and 57 messages from an angry wife, her words laced with the threat of divorce. You notice the calendar, today’s date was encircled red. It’s your daughter’s 5th birthday. 

Immediately, you stood up and grabbed your coat, only to be confronted by the daunting sight of work piled high on your desk. Almost on cue, the office telephone begins ringing, email notifications start flooding in, and your laptop screen lights up with alerts.

You steal a glance at the mirror, seeing a disheveled man, with a face as frazzled as his hair. You know you can’t handle it all alone. You need to delegate. 

Ironically, the idea terrifies you. What if they mess up? What if they don’t understand the cases like you do? The fear of losing control in a field where accuracy is everything holds you back.

You know you need help, but why does it feel like swimming against the current?

While this story might seem like an exaggeration to some and a stark reality to others, the point is, that many professionals, including lawyers, struggle with overcoming this fear. Different stories, similar problems–”The Fear of Delegation.”

In our previous article, “Lawyers as Managers,” we used Dan Martell’s book, “Buy Back Your Time,” to discuss why it is difficult for managers to delegate. A quick review reveals reasons such as:

1. The Get Shit Done Mentality (believing more work equals more productivity)
2. Do-it-yourself Mindset (“I can get it done right and faster if I do it myself”)
3. Perception About Hiring (“Hiring takes too much time, too much energy, too much cost”)

You can read more about “Lawyers as Managers” here: https://blog.avocadohive.com/2024/03/05/lawyers-as-managers/

In this blog, we are going delve into the principles of “Three Secrets to Effective Time Investment,” by Elizabeth Grace Saunders. Elizabeth Grace Saunders is the founder and CEO of Real Life E Time Coaching & Training. Her book offers valuable insights into managing time efficiently which can be applied in overcoming the fear of delegation.

The 3 Secrets to Overcoming the Fear of Delegation

Secret #1: Make Action-based Priorities

To let go of tasks others can handle, start by understanding what should fill the majority of your time.

Time is the ultimate limited resource. There are 24 hours in a day. Ideally, eight hours are for sleep and another eight for work. The remaining eight hours are for personal life, though sometimes work often encroaches on this time.

According to the 2018 Legal Trends Report, 75% of lawyers frequently work outside business hours, and 39% say that those extended hours have taken a toll on their personal lives. 

Moreover, according to the 2022 Legal Trends Report, the majority of lawyers work beyond non-traditional business hours, leading to adverse consequences both professionally and personally.

Most significantly, only 51% of lawyers working non-traditional work schedules reported having good or very good mental health, in contrast to 74% of those who maintain regular work hours. This indicates that lawyers are 45% more inclined to report positive mental health and well-being when adhering to a standard business schedule.

Therefore, you should reflect on what truly matters to you, both professionally and personally. 

According to Elizabeth Grace Saunders, identify your priorities by making a list, in order of importance, and convert them into action-based tasks. For example, if family time tops the list, leaving the office earlier for dinner might be necessary.

In delegation, consider doing essential tasks where you add the most value. Everything outside your core strengths and role should be delegated. Unfortunately, many lawyers don’t allocate time to these essential tasks because they get lost in other trivial tasks from answering emails to drafting.

To identify if you’re doing the essential tasks, you can also try to apply what Elizabeth Saunders said. Make a list of valuable tasks in order of importance, then, make a separate list of tasks that you prioritize each day. Compare both. Does it match? If it doesn’t then, maybe you need to undergo a time and task audit.

Secret #2: Set Realistic Expectations

Perfectionism and over-commitment hinder productivity. Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. The problem with perfection is–it doesn’t exist, thus, setting realistic expectations is crucial.

The Hardin Group conducted research in partnership with the Social Research Lab at the University of Northern Colorado to learn more about the effects of perfectionism at work and it was revealed that 86% of professionals, particularly those in managerial roles like lawyers—who must concurrently manage various facets of law practice and business—believe their work is affected by perfectionist expectations. The effects include struggles with work-life boundaries, struggles saying no to unrealistic demands, poor time management, and reluctance to delegate.

Be realistic. Acknowledge you can’t do everything alone. Assess your time and energy practically. Be honest about how long tasks take and don’t be afraid to seek help and delegate some of them.

Remember the list of priorities earlier? Delegate the least important tasks. For instance, for checking emails and answering phone calls, maybe you can hire a legal assistant, or if you need help with pleadings, maybe you can delegate it to a drafting support.

Secret #3: Strengthen Your Routine

Routines streamline workflow and reduce decision fatigue. Establishing routines is essential for good time management, leaving mental space for important tasks.

When facing the fear of delegation, establish a two step routine:

1. Name the fear

Clarify what bothers you. In delegating tasks, common concerns include fearing the work won’t be done right or feeling out of control. List down your fears about delegation and acknowledge them.

2. Minimize the Risk

Once you have a detailed list of perceived risks, try to address each issue. Figure out how to minimize risks when delegating tasks. Incorporate checks and balances to ensure quality.

For instance, if the perceived risk is fearing that the work will not get done right, pause and carefully consider the tasks that you delegate and adjust your management style accordingly. Remember to allocate buffer time for reviewing and editing work. 

Additionally, one piece of advice I received personally was that there are generally three reasons why your staff may not have completed tasks correctly:

• Miscommunication occurred during task delegation, either on your part or on the part of the staff.
• The task wasn’t adequately taught or the staff wasn’t trained for the assigned task.
• The staff lacked motivation to complete the task effectively.

Conclusion

In conclusion, overcoming the fear of delegation in law firms requires a proactive approach to time management and trust in others’ capabilities.

Remember, delegation is not a sign of weakness but a strategic tool for achieving your goals. Embrace it, and watch your productivity soar.

References:

• The Hardin Group. (2020). Perfectionism Research. Retrieved from: https://thehardingroup.co/perfectionism-research/
• MacDonald, M. (2018). Work-life Balance for Lawyers. Retrieved from: https://www.clio.com/blog/lawyer-work-life-balance/
• Clio. (2022). 2022 Legal Trends Report. Retrieved from: https://www.clio.com/resources/legal-trends/2022-report/read-online/