One of the requests I often hear from law firm owners is that they want to spend less time putting out small fires around the firm and spend more time focusing on growing the firm to be more self-sufficient. My response is always the same… Systems.
Implementing Systems with a solid foundation is the best way to conquer chaos. Now how is that possible when things seem so chaotic and crazy? The answer lies with your SYSTEMS. You MUST analyze them and find their weaknesses and strengths.
For more guidance, keep reading to learn 5 tips for crushing the chaos in your firm.
Tip #1: Remember to Breathe
If you’re in the midst of a chaotic experience at your law business, one of the most important things to remember is to relax and breathe. It can be so easy to get caught up in the madness that your anxiety goes through the roof. And if your mind is racing and you have no idea what you’re doing, the chaos can really overwhelm you. So even if it feels like you’re running through a battlefield, remember to breathe, relax, and approach the situation with calmness and clarity.
Tip #2: Manage Your Stress Points
You know your pet peeves; you know what drives you absolutely crazy. Now if you constantly find that you’re close to reaching your breaking point in the office, then it’s time to work on managing your stress points. While some people are far better at managing these points compared to others, these stress points can be detrimental to managing the chaos—and the stress can make the chaos feel even worse. So if you really want to crush the chaos and do what’s right for your sanity and the sanity of your team, then managing your stress points is vital.
Tip #3: Leave An Open Door
If you’re swimming around an ocean full of stress and you’re struggling to find a way out, then it’s important to still keep an open door policy. After all, you need a group effort to get through the chaos, so you want all hands on deck to get over this hurdle together. Closing your door might make your team feel like you’re upset with them or you’re not there for support or guidance. You ALWAYS want to be a helping hand for your team — even in the midst of a storm of chaos.
Tip #4: Take a Few Extra Minutes
If things are pretty chaotic at your law firm, you can’t just put everything on pause to take care of the fires; after all, you still have clients to please. However, after working a long, hard day at the office, the last thing you want to do is to spend extra time working on building systems or working towards tackling inefficiencies. But if chaos is holding you back and you’re desperately looking for help, then taking those few extra minutes is exactly what you need. I’m not saying that you should work 80+ hours a week to manage the chaos — that can make things even worse. But if you really want to get to a place where things are running smoothly with the RIGHT systems, then try your very best to put in a few extra minutes of work every day to achieve your goal.
Tip #5: Focus On Building Systems
If chaos is the norm at your business, then ask yourself this question: how do your systems look? One of the leading reasons for a chaotic law business involves a lack of systems or systems that aren’t built properly. If you truly want to get on course and on the right path to success, then it’s time to harness the power of systems and ensure they’re built correctly. If your systems haven’t been given the attention they deserve, then you must revisit them ASAP. Poorly built systems can make things crazier than ever, so you MUST keep your systems in check to have any chance of surviving the chaos. And who knows—maybe building the right systems can finally lead to getting more free time.