The Key to Effective Team Management with Penny Zenker

I recently had a conversation with Penny Zenker, productivity expert and author of The Reset Mindset. As a speaker, business strategy coach, and productivity expert with over 20 years of experience scaling multimillion-dollar organizations, Penny shared insights that I think every lawyer needs to hear. You can listen to the full interview on my website here, or on the Be a Better Lawyer Podcast linked at the bottom of this article.

How Leaders Can Build Trust & Engagement in Their Law Practice

As lawyers, we often find ourselves caught in the trap of "I don't have time to lead." We're so focused on deadlines and client work that we forget about the crucial relationships that make our practice run smoothly.

But here's what happens when you don't make time to lead: trust breaks down.

Maybe you've experienced this...

?? You cancel meetings with staff because you're swamped with work

?? You show up late to meetings because a client needed something

?? Your staff doesn't know which priorities matter most because you haven't given them clear guidance

Sound familiar?

If so, let's talk about building your trust bank account.

The Trust Bank Account

Think of trust like a bank account.

Every time you show respect someone and honor your commitments, you're making a deposit.

Every time you cancel a meeting or brush off their concerns, you're making a withdrawal.

If you keep withdrawing without making deposits, eventually the account runs dry.

This is where many lawyers find themselves – trying to make withdrawals from an empty bank account.

The 4 Stages of Employee Engagement

You can see how much trust has been built based upon employee behavior:

1. Show Up: New employees eagerly conform and follow your processes
2. Speak Up: They get comfortable sharing ideas and suggestions
3. Shut Up: When not heard, they become apathetic and disengage
4. Shut Down: Finally, they mentally check out before leaving

If your team members aren't sharing ideas or speaking up, it's a sign to pay attention.

Building Trust Through Weekly Meetings

One of the most powerful ways to build trust is through consistent weekly meetings. Even 20 minutes can make a difference.

These meetings give you space to:

• Get to know your team members personally
• Understand their thought processes
• Share your strategic thinking
• Address confusion before it becomes a problem
• Collaborate on systems and processes

But here's the key: you must show up consistently and be fully present.

The "Open Door" Myth

Many lawyers think they need an "open door" policy to be good leaders. But constant availability actually hurts both you and your team.

When you're always available:

• You can't focus on deep work
• Your team doesn't develop critical thinking skills
• You become a bottleneck in your practice

Instead, schedule regular check-ins and trust your team to handle routine matters.

Creating Reset Moments

Leadership isn't about being available 24/7. It's about creating intentional "reset moments" where you:

• Step back and assess what's working
• Gain perspective on challenges
• Realign with your team's goals

These moments help you stay connected with your team while maintaining boundaries and focus.

The Path Forward

Building trust and engagement isn't about working harder or longer hours. It's about being intentional with the time you spend leading your team.

Start with one small change:

• Schedule weekly meetings and honor them
• Ask for your team's input on processes
• Take time to explain your thinking on important matters
• Create space for questions and collaboration

Remember: Your team doesn't expect perfection. They just want to know you care about their success.

If you're ready to take your leadership to the next level and create a more engaged team, book a strategy session with me at dinacataldo.com/strategysession.

What's one step you'll take this week to build trust with your team? Share in the comments below.

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Dina

Dive deeper into this and other topics just for lawyers.

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How Dina Can Help You

Dina Cataldo is a leading legal industry expert, master certified coach, speaker, and host of the popular podcast “Be a Better Lawyer.”

She helps lawyers take control of their lives and law practices by helping them remove obstacles to growth and create time freedom and peace. These skills allow lawyers to build their practices with more ease than they ever imagined possible.

Dina's insights and advice have been featured on various prominent platforms. She's spoken at the Alabama State Bar Annual Meeting, on podcasts like “Law Firm Autopilot” and “Maximum Lawyer Podcast,” and more.

Through her coaching and speaking, Dina has positively impacted the lives of thousands of lawyers, helping them manage their time, overcome overwhelm, boost self-confidence, and find fulfillment in their legal careers.

Her empathetic and strategic approach has made her a sought-after coach among partners, solo practitioners, and boutique firm owners.

Dina Cataldo is a trailblazer in the legal industry, and she continues to inspire and empower big hearted female lawyers, to achieve professional success and personal fulfillment.

To book a call with her to learn more about working with her one-on-one to build your practice with ease instead of overwhelm, go to dinacataldo.com/strategysession.