Navigating big personalities (& shooting yourself in the foot)
This week we ran a workshop about “Big Personalities & Taking Ownership.” Law is full of big personalities, and learning to flex your style to different bosses/clients is a serious advantage.
👇Check out this flowchart we discussed:
So, what kind of boss do you have?
Micromanager? Pay attention to their cues and mirror their style.
Sink-or-swim? Get the help you need from any available source.
Mixed signals? Over-communicate until you’ve had a clear conversation about expectations.
Each type has its own pros:
✅ Micromanagers give great substantive training—valuable early in your career.
✅ Mixed-signals bosses can be tricky, but you'll learn to read and handle people effectively.
✅ Sink-or-swim leaders push you to grow faster.
✅ Hands-off bosses give you independence but with a safety net.
✅ Gardeners (the dream bosses) nurture your growth.
✅ Blamers may not always have your back, but they're usually outspoken, so if things go smoothly, they can be a helpful champion.
Very quickly though, people start working for us. It begs the question:
WHAT TYPE OF BOSS ARE YOU?
Especially when someone makes a mistake. It’s easy to have someone’s back when everything is going well. The real test is whether they feel safe when 💩 hits the fan.
Don't shoot yourself in the foot as a boss - if you want the pick of the litter when choosing your juniors, pay attention not only to the type of work you're giving, but also how you're giving it.
How do you flex your style when working with different people?
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