Benjamin L. Rackliffe |
Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC partner
There is a famous Winston Churchill quote: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Heeding this advice by offering professional mentorship has given me an increased sense of purpose in my day-to-day work life. Many in the field of law would similarly benefit from a mentor-mentee relationship.
Practicing law, like any profession, has its highs and lows. On a lawyer’s best day, we might take pride in a well-deserved triumph at trial, or perhaps in closing a complex transaction. On less-sunny days, we might fall short of expectations. In each instance, we readily find motivation and purpose, looking to re-create our professional success, or to improve.
But most workdays neither serve up a victory worth celebrating nor a helping of humble pie. It is on these more mundane days where we are more likely to question our professional motivations.
Mentorship is the answer, providing additional reason to “show up,” while bringing auxiliary enjoyment to our time at work.
Studies indicate the unmistakable value of mentorship in the workplace for both mentors and mentees. There is a clear, positive correlation between mentorship and overall workplace satisfaction. Mentorship is also proven to nurture inclusiveness, connectedness and a sense of community. Moreover, the mentor-mentee relationship is shown to increase mental health and combat workplace anxiety.
Consider a mentorship to foster a better work life for yourself and for your mentee.