“Alexa,” a talented attorney at a small law firm, came to coaching feeling stuck and unsatisfied in her career. She had been wanting to separate from her law partners and begin her own firm for a few years. Alexa considered engaging with an executive coach when she first began feeling tension with her law partners. Reluctant to invest the time or money, Alexa decided to try to make the change on her own. Three years passed, filled with frustration and stagnation. To her dismay, Alexa was unable to embark upon the change on her own. Alexa ultimately resolved herself to commit to a coaching partnership to help move her forward with the growth she was wanting and needing in her career.
Challenges
- Boundary Setting: A strong drive to please clients and meet client expectations, even when unrealistic, became habituated, leading to extreme discomfort in setting boundaries.
- Self-Compassion: Inner critic thoughts clouded trust and belief in self that was necessary to take the risks inherent in pursuing change.
- Fear: Internal doubts and risk of failure inhibited moving forward.
- Energy Management: Chronic overwork led to fatigue and loss of energy, clarity and creativity.
Coaching Engagement
Over a twelve-month coaching program, Alexa worked with her executive coach to clarify goals, identify mindset shifts, and build practical tools for sustainable success. Her coach met with her for an hour every week. In between meetings, Alexa worked through VIM’s proprietary awareness building exercises and read the books her coach recommended. Their coaching sessions focused on:
- Energy awareness and management.
- Identifying and understanding resistance to change.
- Creating boundaries and systems to reduce burnout and enhance focus.
- Navigating decisions with clarity and intention rather than fear or habit.
- Trusting resilience to lean-in to discomfort and build trust for the unknown.
- Building a self-compassion practice.
- Understanding the neuroscience of change.
- Identifying and changing relationship to limiting beliefs.
- Specific goal setting by co-authoring “safe” risks to take each week to move in the direction of the desired new professional and personal reality.
Results
By the end of the coaching engagement:
- Alexa successfully started her own firm and built an inspiring team.
- She reduced her weekly work hours while maintaining productivity through effective training, improved delegation and creatively restructuring workflow.
- Alexa regained a sense of purpose and agency in her career.
Key Takeaways
- Even high-performing attorneys benefit from structured reflection and mindset work.
- Professional growth can be attained by building the self-awareness needed to reclaim clarity, confidence, and vision.
- Personal and professional success and satisfaction in law requires emotional intelligence and self-leadership.
I was feeling overwhelmingly stuck in my career. I wanted my own firm. but I couldn’t seem to make it happen. Through my work with VIM, I now have the firm and the team I had always wanted. I am enjoying my practice more than I ever thought possible.”
- Alexa, Managing Partner
