In a recent conversation with consultant and author Cheryl Donaldson, I explored a challenge that is becoming impossible for law firms to ignore: young, talented lawyers are more willing than ever to walk out the door if the culture doesn’t work for them.
What Cheryl brought to the conversation was over three decades of clinical experience and a psychologist’s clarity about what actually makes people stay, thrive, and grow inside an organization, and what quietly drives them away.
What Healthy Organizations Need
Cheryl’s framework for building a firm people want to stay in comes down to three non-negotiables. When any one of the three is missing, things start to unravel.
Hiding in Plain Sight
One of the most direct observations Cheryl made in the episode was about what has quietly been lost in the shift to hybrid and remote work.
When people feel like they’re part of an assembly line rather than a team, they leave. The connection has to be created intentionally, or the talent walks.
The Non-Linear Path
Cheryl’s answer to the closing question about her biggest mistake was one of the most grounding moments of the episode.
The lesson she carried forward, and the one she brings to the lawyers and leaders she works with, is that the non-linear moments aren’t detours. They’re often where the real development happens.
Steve Fretzin is a five-time bestselling author, host of the BE THAT LAWYER and Future Rainmakers podcasts, and a business development coach who works exclusively with attorneys. For more than 18 years, he has helped lawyers build strong books of business without selling, pitching, or chasing, using his proven Sales-Free Selling™ approach. His clients consistently become top rainmakers and credit his coaching and systems for driving meaningful, measurable growth. Steve can be reached directly at steve@fretzin.com, or through his website at www.bethatlawyer.com. Connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefretzin. His ALL NEW BE THAT LAWYER Community is changing how lawyers develop the skills never taught in law school. Learn more at www.bethatlawyer.com/community.
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