The doctor at the top of the cliff, or the ambulance at the bottom?

One of the advantages of going out in my own is that I have some time to think about my legal practice, and the type of work I enjoy and want to be doing. 

A lot of employment law work involves crisis management. A personal grievance has been raised and needs to be responded to. An employee has been fired and wants to raise a claim. A mediation or investigation meeting is imminent. An investigation is underway. 

I enjoy this aspect of my work. It is essentially all about problem resolution, and is very satisfying. Often the work is urgent, the client needs immediate advice and support. Sometimes it involves the clean-up after poor decision-making or inadequate process. Often those involved are in some stress or distress, be they employer or employee. It may involve negotiating a settlement, and it is super satisfying to help the parties to reach an outcome.

But another side of my work is what I call intervention: being consulted as to the process requirements before the process has begun. Being consulted by the employee client when they are being bullied but before they storm out having reached their limit as to what they can tolerate. Being asked the question before there is the crisis.

Further back in the process still, I love being engaged to train leaders and supervisors on proper process and employee management. Or being brought in to conduct an investigation into organisational culture and behaviour, so that change can be made. Or helping clients put in place policy that will help them with the successful management of their team. Or helping employees respond to what is happening to them in their workplace, while there is still time.

This is what I call being the doctor at the top of the cliff rather than the ambulance at the bottom. The preventative medicine, to torture the medical analogy a little further. It is deeply satisfying to know that advice or training or coaching that I give now, absolutely will save the employer time and cost and stress later, and lead to better outcomes both for the business and the employees concerned.

I think too often businesses in particular struggle along for too long without the support and advice that they need. And then they can’t necessarily get the outcome that they could get. I have no doubt that intervention - and as early as possible - works, and generates a greater outcome.

Either way, I can have a role, and while I enjoy whatever support I am privileged to give to my clients, I know which one I really prefer.