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In the fast-paced and often high-pressure environments of professional and personal life, we should remember to extend grace to those around us.
This means offering understanding, patience, and compassion—not only for our own benefit but also for that of our families, friends, colleagues, and clients.
As we find ourselves navigating the business of law post-Covid, extending grace is an important part of the foundation upon which individuals and employers can build healthy workplaces and relationships.
These days, our personal lives involve a variety of stressors. Whether it is fending off our own mental health struggles, ensuring the kids make it to school and have dinner to chomp down on when they get home, finding time for exercise, or making sure the bills are timely paid, there are stressors each of us face on a regular basis that are wholly independent of our work lives.
Many individuals find themselves juggling multiple roles at once—employee, parent, caregiver, friend. Burnout, and the mental health impact associated with it, is not reserved for a few industries anymore. It’s a daily reality for many.
In addition to these common daily stressors, we in the legal profession face additional hurdles affecting not only our ability to do our job but also our ability to find and secure the long-sought-after work-life balance. There is no doubt about it: finding the balance is as difficult as managing the imbalance.
As attorneys, paralegals, and other legal staff, we are charged with the responsibility of navigating high-stakes situations, sacrificing long hours, organizing intense workloads and managing an emotionally charged clientele—all while attempting to be accurate, persuasive, and prepared.
The legal profession demands perfection, although lawyers have different definitions of it. And while perfection may be our goal, it comes with the increased risk of mistakes and disappointment, which affects us and those around us at the office and home.
So, what can we do about it? We can start by extending grace—both personally and professionally.
Giving others grace means recognizing that people are doing the best they can with the resources and energy they have at the moment. It doesn’t mean lowering standards, accepting poor work product, or excusing unacceptable behavior, but it does mean pausing before judging or reacting.
It means asking, “What might they be going through?” rather than immediately concluding someone is lazy, inattentive, or unprofessional.
This shift fosters trust. When people feel understood instead of scrutinized, they are more likely to communicate openly and try harder. Colleagues who know their team has their back during a tough time will likely return stronger, more loyal and more engaged. This leads to improved morale, better collaboration,and increased productivity. Plus, it is contagious.
Professionally, giving others grace smooths out friction. It can transform tension into teamwork, and criticism into constructive dialogue. For leaders, it builds respect. For peers, it strengthens relationships. For clients, it signals empathy and compassion. And for those in the legal field—where adversarial mindsets can easily bleed into interpersonal relationships—grace becomes a powerful counterbalance.
When people practice grace, they carry less emotional baggage. They waste less time stewing in resentment or overanalyzing small slights. Relationships—whether with partners, children, friends or family—become easier and more forgiving. There’s space for being human.
So how do we go about extending grace? It’s easy to think of grace as a soft skill, something secondary to the “real work.” But in truth, grace is foundational to psychological safety, which research shows is one of the strongest predictors of high-performing teams.
It starts with intentional choices:
• Assume positive intent. People usually aren’t trying to be difficult. They’re trying to manage a lot.
• Practice curiosity over judgment. Ask rather than accuse. Seek to understand before you react.
• Offer flexibility when possible. A little room to breathe can go a long way in helping someone recover and contribute more meaningfully.
• Lead by example. When leaders and managers model grace, it becomes embedded in the team culture.
Everyone is fighting battles others can’t see. Stress is a near-constant presence in today’s world. Giving others the grace they deserve—whether they’re colleagues, clients or friends—can ease tension, build trust and foster environments where people feel valued and supported.
It’s a simple human act with far-reaching impact. And perhaps most important, it’s something each person can choose to do every day.
Allow this note to serve as a reminder to take care of yourself and those around you by extending grace.
If you or someone you know in the legal industry is struggling with mental well-being, Indiana’s Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program is available to provide assistance. More information about this program can be found at https://www.in.gov/courts/jlaphelps/about/.•
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Jonathan “Yogi” Snider is a partner in the Indianapolis office of Dinsmore & Shohl and serves on the board of directors of the DTCI. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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