A client needed to clear a conflict. Which also meant stroking the ego of a powerful partner in her firm.
“I hate workplace politics,” she said.
I hear this a lot. I coach around it a lot.
What about you, Friend? Do you also lament workplace politics?
Politics aren’t a distraction from the job. They are a big part of the job as you move up.
Law firms (and other organizations) are made up of people.
People with feelings.
People with unconscious biases.
People with deeply held beliefs shaped by their experiences, good and bad.
That’s where workplace politics come from. People...
Being the humans they are. And pretending they don’t exist or refusing to “play the game” because it feels beneath you?
It’s self-limiting.
If you want to move up, lead, and actually make a difference, I am here to tell you: You must work within the system you're in.
But that doesn't mean you must be toxic.
The key is to become more emotionally intelligent.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is what allows you to navigate complexity and lead through it.
It includes 5 components:
Self-Awareness: Knowing your triggers, blind spots, and strengths so you don’t derail your influence.
Self-Regulation: Managing your emotional responses - especially in the heat of conflict, rejection, or office drama.
Empathy: Understanding what others need and what drives them - so you can respond effectively, not reactively.
Motivation: Tapping into intrinsic motivation (not just external validation) so you stay focused and steady, no matter the politics.
Social Skills: Building connection, influence, and trust without pretending to be someone you’re not.
Strengthening these skills will help you navigate workplace politics skillfully (and more importantly, with integrity).
Need to know how to successfully navigate three common political law firm landmines (including how to ask for origination/managing attorney credit)?
Listen to this week’s Life & Law Podcast here.
XO,
Heather
