When Devotion To Work Becomes Job Obsession

A Wall Street Journal article, appearing January 23, 2007, written by Dana Mattioli, makes the point that, in today's busy business world, it can be difficult to distinguish between a workaholic and a person who simply is dedicated to doing a good job.

Workaholics devote excessive time to their jobs and often become anxious when they can't.  When devotion to work becomes unhealthy, side effects may include fatigue, sleep disorders and stress-related ailments, including heart attack and stroke - - in other words, literally working oneself to death.

An example is being in church or at the theater or on vacation (if one is ever taken), and thinking all the time about work back at the office.

Workaholics frequently put in such long hours that they can't see family or socialize.

The author gives five common traits of workaholics (many, or all of which, apply to some lawyers we know):

1. Preoccupation With Work.  Workaholics are typically unable to "turn it off."  They are thinking about work, if not actually doing work, in the car, at home, on vacation - - all the time.

2. Discomfort Delegating.  Workaholics are often poor delegators, because they need to remain in control.

3. Neglect Other Aspects Of Life.  Workaholics often put their work before their families and other aspects of their personal lives.

4. Merge Other Parts Of Their Lives Into Their Work.  For example, they may try to create businesses based on their hobbies.

4. "Sneaking" Work.  Workaholics, like addicts, often try to hide their addiction for work.  They will often lie about where they have been (at the office) or what they have been doing.

Workaholics pay a heavy personal "price" for this addiction; and, if one is merely overzealous at doing a good job, such devotion is, to say the least, unhealthy - - both personally and physically.

Comments

[David A. Katz, Federal Judge,]

Having practiced law for over 37 years before becoming a Judge, I have some random thoughts which might interest some.
1. While I developed a "Hard Work" ethic, I enjoyed it and it proved good for me, but may not be for others. I decided early on that I would work hard, both in the practice and the community, get the most chargeable hours, billings, etc. of anyone in the firm. While I loved to complain about the 60 phone calls a day and the heavy workload, I was more miserable when things slowed down! Making the practice a contest with myself helped me immensely! And my family came to understand.
2. The burden of managing others as the Chairman of a firm was the greatest challenge for me. Managing lawyers in some instances is like herding cats! But developing an inclusive, rather than dictatorial style, in most instances, helped me.
3. Sadly, the press for chargeable time/billings is the only part of the law practice almost univerally abhored. But recognizing it as a necessary commitent to success and making it a "game" made it tolerable for me.
4. Competition. Post-Watergate and the Supreme Court decisions on lawyer advertizing changed the practice of law dramatically. Interviewing for new clients, raiding of other firms/lawyers clients, and other approaches eventually became accepted norms. With them came the loss of loyalty, both of clients to lawyers and lawyers to their firms. That is something we as a profession can and should address and fix. It denegrates the profession and does not endear us to clients or prospective clients.