This week we are talking about one way you can increase your chances of success when you are improving your practice: find yourself a community.

Change is hard. You may be the only person in your office even interested in doing things differently. It might feel like you are pushing water uphill. Without someone to share the burden, celebrate your wins, and drag you out of your failures, you might be tempted to give up. Don’t! Instead, find yourself a community.

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The Value of Community

When you are trying something new, it’s great to get support from seasoned veterans willing to share lessons learned and offer guidance. It’s also helpful to share the journey with others at the same stage as you. There’s comfort in knowing you are not alone, that the challenges you are facing are not unique. That others have survived them, that there is a way forward, and that you, too, can succeed.

That is certainly the case when you’re trying to find new and more efficient ways to practice law.

Perhaps you are feeling chained to your desk in an inefficient and frustrating practice or you are overwhelmed by the volume of time you have to spend just to run your business.

Or perhaps you are already running the firm of your dreams, but you want to do even better.

It can be daunting when the pressures to change are external, coming from clients, the economy, or the need to adapt in the face of a health crises or otherwise. In circumstances like these, community becomes even more important, helpful, and reassuring.

Facebook and LinkedIn have groups for almost every conceivable type of organization or association. These communities bring together people who share common attitudes, interests, understandings, and goals. They allow us to serve each other, to discuss and solve common issues, to support and to network with each other.

Communities Are a Two-Way Street

If you follow me on Instagram, you know community is important to me. I ski patrol in the winter and work year-round as a rescue technician. Volunteering with these two organizations is just one way that I show up every day for the members of my community. But it is not a one-way street. It is not just about my desire to serve others. These communities also help me. I get to maintain, and also learn new skills. They provide connection, camaraderie, and support, and allow me to change my headspace.

What Some Say About Why They Joined a Community

Are there communities for people interested in changing the practice of law? Absolutely. We asked a group of lawyers who recently joined our newest community, why they joined, and what  excited them most about the Practice Accelerator Membership. Here are some of their answers:

• “I’m looking to network, but also to build my toolbox of skills and ideas that I can apply to my work…”
• “I want to learn from others and build my practice on a strong foundation that will support growth…”
• “I want to learn and discuss soft skills and skills that are relevant more broadly to the business of law…”
• “I’m seeking the opportunity to keep learning from others who are sharing the same experiences as me, and from people more advanced…”
• “I’m looking for a forum for guidance from other like-minded managing partners…”
• “I want to be a part of a group of like-minded practitioners and improve the processes and practices of my firm so that I can enjoy my work more…”

Regardless of where you are on your success path, you will make your journey easier if you are part of a community. Whether you’re a seasoned pro running the firm of your dreams, or you’re frustrated and worn out because there’s just so much to do and you don’t have enough time to practice law, manage your business, and leave the office at a reasonable time, there is a community for you.

If you are the pro, you can hone your skills and keep up with constantly evolving best practices. Perhaps you can mentor and network with others. If you are at the other end of the spectrum, you will learn from others who are travelling or have already travelled the same road as you.

If this is what you’re looking for, join us in the free LeanLegal® Community on Facebook.

Change is hard, so make sure you are surrounded by like-minded people who can help you carry your initiatives across the finish line.

And that’s it for this week’s tip. Join us next week for more on building a profitable and productive law practice.

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Thanks a lot everybody! See you next week.