John R. Kormanik
MISSION: RECLAIM THE LAW AS A NOBLE PROFESSION
MISSION: RECLAIM THE LAW AS A NOBLE PROFESSION

leadership

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The Gratitude Gap: How Elite Law Firm Leaders Balance Fulfillment and Ambition

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The Gratitude Gap: How Elite Law Firm Leaders Balance Fulfillment and Ambition

If you’ve built a successful firm but still feel the pull for more, you’re not alone. There’s a particular kind of tension that high-achieving attorneys feel—but rarely discuss:

I’m grateful for all I’ve built… so why do I still want more?

That quiet discomfort—the feeling that something’s missing even though everything “looks” right—is what I call The Gratitude Gap. It’s the internal conflict between contentment and desire, presence and progress, fulfillment and ambition. And if you don’t learn how to reconcile that tension, it doesn’t go away. It compounds.

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Bridging the Gratitude Gap: How One Lawyer Reclaimed Confidence by Celebrating Progress

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Bridging the Gratitude Gap: How One Lawyer Reclaimed Confidence by Celebrating Progress

The “Gratitude Gap” keeps many attorneys stuck in a cycle of striving. This story shows what happens when you stop to acknowledge how far you’ve already come.

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Command, Don’t Demand: The Communication Shift Law Firm Leaders Need Now

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Command, Don’t Demand: The Communication Shift Law Firm Leaders Need Now

In law school, we’re trained to be articulate. To master language. To communicate with precision. And for the most part, we succeed—at least in the courtroom or at the negotiation table. But in the real world of law firm leadership? Articulation alone doesn’t cut it.

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From Pressure to Presence: What Happens When Leaders Stop Demanding

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From Pressure to Presence: What Happens When Leaders Stop Demanding

What if the biggest leadership breakthrough wasn’t in getting louder—but in getting clearer?

In the world of law firm leadership, power often masquerades as pressure. High expectations are seen as synonymous with excellence. But there’s a subtle, profound distinction between demanding excellence and commanding it—and one managing partner recently made that shift.

Here’s how…

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The Hidden Power of Communication in Leadership: Why Great Leaders Don’t Just Speak—They Connect.

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The Hidden Power of Communication in Leadership: Why Great Leaders Don’t Just Speak—They Connect.

Leadership isn’t about saying the right thing. It’s about saying the right thing the right way. When you shift from being understood to ensuring they understand—when you prioritize impact over intention—you lead differently.

And when you lead differently, everything changes…

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What Only You Can Do: Redesigning the Role of Managing Partner

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What Only You Can Do: Redesigning the Role of Managing Partner

There’s a question I love to ask the managing partners I work with—one that cuts through the noise and goes straight to the heart of the matter. The real answer to that question tells you exactly what lives in the gap between how you lead your firm today and how you must lead your firm if you want it to grow beyond you. It gives you the path for the work that must be done if your law firm is to grow beyond you….

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The Hidden Edge of Elite Leadership: Why Rest and Recovery Matter More Than You Think

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The Hidden Edge of Elite Leadership: Why Rest and Recovery Matter More Than You Think

The highest-performing leaders don’t just work harder; they work recover smarter. They know that rest and recovery aren’t signs of weakness but competitive advantages. In fact, what’s true for athletes is true for elite Managing Partners: Strategic recovery is what separates elite performers from those who plateau or burn out. Here’s how to do it…

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Leading with Energy, Empathy, and Authority: How to Balance Connection and Command in Leadership

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Leading with Energy, Empathy, and Authority: How to Balance Connection and Command in Leadership

Effective leadership requires a delicate balance between empathy and authority. Many believe these qualities are polar opposites, but in reality, they are complementary forces that can transform your leadership style. The ability to connect with your team while maintaining strong decision-making skills is what separates good leaders from great ones.

In this blog post, you’ll explore the dynamics of energy leadership, how to find the right balance between empathy and authority, and practical strategies to implement this approach in your leadership style. By the end, you’ll have a clear framework to create a high-performing, engaged team that thrives under your leadership.

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Mastering the Art of Letting Go: How Law Firm Leaders Can Delegate Effectively

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Back in the day, when I started my law firm I leaned into doing more than I ought to have—client work, marketing, networking, admin work, everything. It was a different story when I started my coaching business because I had learned to let go, focus on the things I was good at and that moved the needle for my business, that I truly experienced the power of leveraging my team. Delegation is about creating time and space for what only you can do: lead, strategize, and envision the future.

In this post, I’ll break down the four levels of delegation and, more importantly, how you can embrace the pinnacle—**Designing**—to achieve growth and freedom.

Let’s start with the mental roadblocks. If you’ve ever hesitated to delegate, chances are one of these is to blame…

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Harness Energy Leadership and Transform Your Law Firm’s Management

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Leadership isn't a one-size-fits-all endeavor. It is no different for your law firm. As a managing partner or firm owner, you're navigating through different challenges every day, and your leadership style needs to adapt. This is where the Energy Leadership framework comes in—helping you become a more effective, dynamic leader by aligning your leadership styles with different energy levels.

What is Energy Leadership?