The best advice I ever received came before I could fully appreciate it.
As a young lawyer, one of my mentors told me something that I would come to understand on a much deeper level years later. “You may be the only person driving your career,” my mentor said, “but you need other people to help you get where you are going.” I am glad the idea stuck with me, because it has shaped my career in multiple ways – first in building my own practice, and second in developing my approach to leadership.
Law is a competitive profession, but I love this advice because it reframes our work as an endeavor that can and should be cooperative. There is certainly a place for competitive instincts, but I am most competitive with myself, which ultimately motivates me to do my best work. When you approach your work with that mindset, you learn how to push your own limits and help your colleagues push theirs.
My mentor’s advice has also given me a model for leadership that is positive. In leadership roles at Seward & Kissel, I hope to create a collaborative environment. I want my teams to strive for the best they can each do individually, knowing they are working with me and the rest of the group to put forth the best client service and work product. The buck may stop with me as the leader of the team, but they are not working for me.
That is a crucial distinction. When everyone focuses on doing their personal best, rather than worrying about how they measure up against the rest of the team, rewarding opportunities emerge for all of us to reach our highest potential. Mentors, managers, and teammates have helped me thrive in that way throughout my career, and doing the same for my colleagues is a key part of how I view my own personal success.
