Pressure Proof

Motivation

What Leaders Misunderstand About Hope

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on April 21, 2025

Hope often gets conflated with optimism or wishing. When you hope, you have both high expectations for the future and a realistic view of the obstacles.

Hope often gets conflated with optimism or wishing. When you hope, you have both high expectations for the future and a realistic view of the obstacles.

Burnout

Building Sustainable Workloads

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on March 28, 2025

Maintaining a sustainable workload requires strategic recovery. Prioritizing rest boosts resilience, prevents burnout, and sustains high performance.

Maintaining a sustainable workload requires strategic recovery. Prioritizing rest boosts resilience, prevents burnout, and sustains high performance.

Career

How to Create a Culture of Mattering at Work

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on February 15, 2024

Mattering is a universal human need that drives motivation and well-being. At work, it's an indicator of organizational and community health and thriving.

Mattering is a universal human need that drives motivation and well-being. At work, it's an indicator of organizational and community health and thriving.

Workplace Dynamics

The Power of Employee Appreciation

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on October 19, 2023

Sticky recognition is a specific way to show a person the evidence of their impact. When it happens, important outcomes follow.

Sticky recognition is a specific way to show a person the evidence of their impact. When it happens, important outcomes follow.

Workplace Dynamics

How to Foster Meaningful Work

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on October 4, 2023

New research identifies six, specific leadership practices that foster meaningful work.

New research identifies six, specific leadership practices that foster meaningful work.

Burnout

Are You Burned Out or Just Exhausted?

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on August 14, 2023

Heavy workloads, stressful jobs, and long work hours continue to leave employees at all levels feeling exhausted. But does that mean they're burned out?

Heavy workloads, stressful jobs, and long work hours continue to leave employees at all levels feeling exhausted. But does that mean they're burned out?

Stress

How to Manage Microstress

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on June 14, 2023

There are seven categories of people who can help you effectively manage microstress.

There are seven categories of people who can help you effectively manage microstress.

Burnout

The Legal Profession’s Journey Toward Well-Being

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on May 31, 2023

Nearly 3,000 lawyers answered questions related to well-being and the relation to law firms’ culture and policies.

Nearly 3,000 lawyers answered questions related to well-being and the relation to law firms’ culture and policies.

Stress

The Upside of Stress

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on April 18, 2023

A "stress helps" mindset increases your energy, raises your heart rate, and boosts your adrenaline—but it differs from the fight-or-flight response.

A "stress helps" mindset increases your energy, raises your heart rate, and boosts your adrenaline—but it differs from the fight-or-flight response.

Stress

Stress, Loneliness, Overcommitment, and Lawyer Suicide Risk

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on March 3, 2023

High levels of perceived stress, work overcommitment, and loneliness are all significantly associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation among lawyers.

High levels of perceived stress, work overcommitment, and loneliness are all significantly associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation among lawyers.

Burnout

Engaged and Exhausted: A Burnout Profile Leaders Must Watch

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on February 16, 2023

Engaged-exhausted workers showed the highest rate of turnover intention in the study, even higher than the most burned-out participants.

Engaged-exhausted workers showed the highest rate of turnover intention in the study, even higher than the most burned-out participants.

Career

Creating Belonging on Hybrid Legal Teams

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on January 13, 2023

Belonging is the need to feel connected to others, to feel like you are part of groups that are important and significant to you, and to create strong relationships.

Belonging is the need to feel connected to others, to feel like you are part of groups that are important and significant to you, and to create strong relationships.

Stress

Is it Helping or Harming?

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on January 6, 2023

Taking the time to care can change the trajectory of a person’s life.

Taking the time to care can change the trajectory of a person’s life.

Stress

Strategies to Harness Hope When You Feel Stressed

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on September 6, 2022

When you feel overwhelmed, it can be difficult in the moment to imagine the experience will eventually lead to some type of growth. Thinking in a hopeful way can help.

When you feel overwhelmed, it can be difficult in the moment to imagine the experience will eventually lead to some type of growth. Thinking in a hopeful way can help.

Career

4 Mistakes Micromanagers Make and How to Help

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on July 15, 2022

Micromanagement is the motivational equivalent of buying on credit: you get what you want in the immediate short term, but you pay a steep price for it later.

Micromanagement is the motivational equivalent of buying on credit: you get what you want in the immediate short term, but you pay a steep price for it later.

Career

The 4 Major Kinds of Regret

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on February 18, 2022

Life's misses are powerful teachers, pointing us closer to what we really need and value.

Life's misses are powerful teachers, pointing us closer to what we really need and value.

Empathy

5 Ways to Increase Empathy at Work and in Life

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on February 10, 2022

Empathy is the ability to identify with the challenges that other people face and to see those challenges from their perspective.

Empathy is the ability to identify with the challenges that other people face and to see those challenges from their perspective.

Relationships

The Importance of Getting to Know People You Don’t Know

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on January 4, 2022

Our assumptions about conversations with strangers can prevent us from connecting with them.

Our assumptions about conversations with strangers can prevent us from connecting with them.

The best cure for burnout is prevention. Managers and organizations need to create the right type of workplace environment where burnout will not occur in the first place.

Resilience

To Quit or Not to Quit? That Is the Question

Paula Davis J.D., M.A.P.P. on August 5, 2021

You have to be comfortable living with whatever decision you make, and that’s really all that matters.

You have to be comfortable living with whatever decision you make, and that’s really all that matters.