This last Friday and Saturday we completed our annual law firm retreat. The purpose of the retreat was to work on the firm and not in the firm for a couple of days. However, I believe that to work on the firm we also have to work on ourselves. Things that I learned at the retreat:

  1. We are all carrying invisible “baggage” that influences and colors they way we see the world and how we relate to others in our personal and professional lives. It is good to look through your bag once in a while to determine if what you have been carrying around for years still serves a purpose in your life today and will allow you to move forward into the future. 
  • It is important to create a safe environment where people feel comfortable sharing some of their baggage with others. In sharing our “baggage” we come to the realization that we are not alone in our experiences and despite our diverse backgrounds, we have more in common than we realize. In sharing our experiences, we can relate to one another and communicate at a deeper level. This creates an environment of trust and understanding that leads to healthier and more fulfilling personal and professional relationships.
  • The heart of any business is its people. Providing an environment where individuals can grow, learn and flourish will result in more productivity and better work product. This in turn will lead to successful interactions and partnerships with others outside of the business. A successful enterprise celebrates individuality while providing the tools for those individuals to come together toward a common goal.

We are extremely fortunate to be able to work in a law firm that celebrates diversity and individuality and provides an environment where people are encouraged to grow and innovate while working toward the common goal of providing excellent legal services to our clients.

In closing, I invite you to lighten your load. Take a look at your baggage and decide if there is anything in there that has reached its expiration date and needs to be discarded to make room for things that not only will serve you better today but will allow you to move more freely into your future and your common goals whatever they may be.  Do not be afraid to get rid of things in your bag to make room for new things. Do not be afraid to share things in your bag with others and be open to what others want to share with you. Do not be afraid to ask for help.