Breaking Out of the Socially Distanced Comfort Zone

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy a solid routine. Routines help me stay on task and accomplish goals. However, being so stuck in your ways that you cannot diverge from routines can have negative effects. This was clearly demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people were content in their routine. Then, when faced with COVID-19 obstacles that not only encouraged change, but required it, some people panicked. They let it be a reason not to do something. On the other hand, some people saw an opportunity. A chance to try something new, and perhaps better.

That being said, I want to talk about my experience so far as a new attorney in this world full of change and people who are either resistant to it or embrace it. This is especially important as the legal world is known for being fairly resistant to change. One of the biggest changes in the workplace as a result of COVID-19 is how we communicate. Many people are still working remotely. This means no popping into each other’s offices to ask a quick question or saying good morning and building relationships with small talk and donuts. It also means more emails and less face-to-face interactions. Additionally, it has been my experience that even phone calls between coworkers are not as common these days.

As a new attorney at a firm I had not worked with before, I followed the lead of the experienced attorneys when it came to communication — which meant mostly everything was done by email. I did not want to be that annoying new attorney calling them up with questions because I knew they were busy with their heavy case loads. As time went on, I grew impatient with the inefficiency of writing out my questions in an email. So, I started picking up the phone and calling the attorneys I was working on cases with. I also even started suggesting meeting in the office (with COVID-19 safety protocols of course) for larger discussions. I thought that these suggestions would be received poorly and with annoyance. However, the reality is that they felt the same way I did. The feedback I received from almost all the people that I am working with is that they too miss the pre-pandemic social interactions and actually speaking to people as we did more prior to the pandemic. They too were irritated by the inefficiency of the back and forth of sending emails, all which sometimes can simply be taken care of with a brief phone call.

The moral of my story is that even if you are a new attorney, you should not be afraid to make waves. Do not be afraid to go against how things are “normally done.” After all, others may not like how things are “normally done” either! After getting the courage to do things in a way I found more efficient, I have since received praise for my efforts to connect and collaborate via phone calls, Zoom, or in-person meetings as opposed to handling things via email or other sometimes inefficient methods. Although it might seem like people prefer working remotely and just doing their own thing, which was definitely my initial impression, that may not be the case. They might be feeling the same way you are.

An upside to taking this stance is that it shows you are efficient and a go-getter. Your firm will appreciate your efficiency, as that only benefits them. It also allows you to build better relationships with your co-workers. Do not get me wrong — working remotely without a doubt has its benefits. However, it does make building relationships with co-workers more difficult.

That is why I encourage whoever is reading this to pick up the phone. Step into an office. Whatever it is, don’t simply be a name in an email chain. The pandemic does not mean we are robots who should never talk to our co-workers or should only exist via email. As humans, we need to stay connected and maintain our relationships. It makes for a better and more enjoyable work environment. And remember, this applies to much more than communication. Whatever it is you are doing or working on, your opinion is important. Maybe it is time to make some waves.