Kindness in leadership – our award-winning approach to managing law firms

Seeing kindness as a strength

At MAPD we’re proud to do things differently. In our mission to make a positive difference we always view kindness as a strength, and this flows through our businesses from the top down, creating a culture of inclusivity and acceptance. Law firms are not traditionally known for their compassionate approach to management, but we’re happy to be at the forefront of change, leading the way towards a new way of working which benefits everyone. We believe kindness is a currency, and the more of it available in a workplace, the more emotionally rich we all become.

Leading with award-winning values

In 2019 I was fortunate enough to be named one of the UK’s 50 Kindness & Leadership Leading Lights, an award scheme created by the prestigious Women of the Future programme. The campaign seeks to reframe the way we think about leadership as a society, with an emphasis on the importance of kindness in organisations of all kinds. Being recognised as part of this new status quo alongside so many brilliant leaders was a huge honour, and truly reflects the values we hold at MAPD.

Creating a new type of business

I established The MAPD Group with Brian Cullen in early 2020, following over 20 years’ experience in leadership and management roles within the legal sector, in both France and the UK. Our core goal to make a positive difference is immortalised in our name, which gives just a small indication of how passionate we both are about driving constructive change. We completed our first acquisition, the Jackson Lees Group, in March 2020, and our second, Myers & Co, in June 2021.?We are now looking to help other law firms grow by removing challenges and finding solutions aligned to our ethos, focusing on kindness in leadership wherever we can.

From my own experience I understand that teams need a nurturing, compassionate approach to perform at their best. Although more hardline management approaches are still active in many corporations and may get results in the short term, we know that staff require more human-to-human connections to feel valued, and therefore more productive and loyal to a company long term.

Using our emotional intelligence

Being professional doesn’t mean turning off your “human side”; actually we believe it requires the opposite. Brian and I pride ourselves on being considerate leaders, so we understand the importance of incorporating emotional intelligence into our roles, and also promoting it across MAPD. Although many businesses expect employees to separate their work selves from their emotions, we want people to truly feel like themselves at all times. By spending time really listening to our staff, they will be more capable of listening to others and empathising with clients, creating a positive working environment that supports our team and our community.

Developing the right kind of culture

Our drive to create a positive culture is supported by Mairi Probin, Chief Culture & People Officer at MAPD. This unique position is not traditionally seen in law firms, and enables us to make the wellbeing of our people a key priority. As well as offering frequent opportunities for our staff to be heard and validated, we also want them to grow and progress with the MAPD Academy, which delivers impactful training and personal development programmes to ensure MAPD people are always able to thrive.

Building a better future together

Compassionate, empathic leaders can have a hugely positive impact, creating environments where people are empowered and inspired to fulfil their potential, so it’s vital that the UK’s corporate culture reflects this in its leadership.

The pandemic has shown us all how unpredictable life can be and proven just how important togetherness is. We are stronger, better and healthier when we work together, and a true sense of team and collective responsibility can be so easily nurtured and grown through the kindness and compassion of those in charge.?

I believe a happy and engaged team will always give more of themselves, be more productive and have more fun.?Kindness is good for our mental health and fosters positive workplaces, which in turn allows our people to make a much greater impact for themselves, their clients and their communities.?Kindness is key to our core value - making a positive difference – so it sits at the heart of everything we do.

Does your law firm want to lead with kindness?

We know there are more firms out there which already share our vision, those that want to make positive changes but aren’t sure how. If this sounds like your business then please get in touch and let’s work to MAPD together.

To start your journey, visit mapdgroup.com, call 0345 901 0446 or connect with us on LinkedIn:

Brian Cullen – Group CEO at The MAPD Group

Joanna Kingston-Davies – Group COO at The MAPD Group

About the author

Joanna Kingston-Davies - Group COO at The MAPD Group

Joanna is a different kind of COO. Joanna brings an encouraging, compassionate, and nurturing approach to her leadership that supports her team to deliver outstanding results. She places huge value on emotional intelligence and is relentless in her pursuit of fairness and opportunity for others.

Joanna started her working life in Paris and now has over 20 years’ experience in law firm leadership. Her approach embraces and nurtures change as a positive force. By spending time with and listening to MAPD people, Joanna has been able to create a positive working environment that supports and enables the wellbeing of the team.