When initially meeting with a client, I will frequently say “Tell me about the people with whom you work”. “e client will often say: “I work in a practice group of five people. I get along well with four of them, but have problems with one person who is really difficult”. Usually I say, “Tell me more about that difficult individual.
What is it about that person and the way you two interact that causes you to say s/he is a difficult personality?” “e client then usually describes the individual in minute detail, focusing on behaviours that s/he perceives to be unpleasant or difficult.
I expect you have experienced “difficult personalities” in your law practice. How can you handle those relationships to minimise, if not eliminate, the problem? Clearly, getting along with all kinds of people, including “difficult personalities”, is a critical skill for lawyers. As a lawyer, you must interact with professional colleagues in and outside of your office, your existing and prospective clients, referral sources and other community members. If you can manage your professional relationships optimally, you will be a better lawyer, have more work, improve your chances for advancement and so forth. How do you achieve this?