MHAW – Our TPP Community: Michael Pritchard

On Friday we shared that this MHAW we will be celebrating and showcasing some of the senior leaders in our TPP community. This is in honour of this year's theme - 'Community is... what we create together’.

To kick off the week, Michael Pritchard joins us! Michael is a Partner at Mayne Wetherell, one of New Zealand's premier law firms. As a lawyer, he has organically grown into leadership. Michael says each step of his career has presented him with invigorating new leadership challenges—as a young lawyer learning to lead teams, to leading clients through high intensity transactions, and now to being a leader within the firm.  Michael says he’s fortunate to be in partnership with a group of talented leaders, who he is constantly learning from.

Let’s hear from Michael:

• What does mental health mean to you, and why do you think it's important to talk about it openly?

To me, mental health is a state of psychological and emotional wellbeing.  It does not necessarily mean an infallible state of happiness; but rather a state of deep contentment, comfort and fulfilment.  Talking openly about mental health is critical, particularly in a high performing firm in a high-pressure industry, because a solitary mind can be an echo chamber for negative thoughts.  Many lawyers are their own harshest critics; and gaining an external perspective is invaluable to recalibrate a negative outlook.

• How do you prioritise your mental health in your daily life?

It is a constant work on.  First, physical health is fundamental—exercise and a good diet has a profound effect on my mental health.  Second, spending time with my wife and friends is critical—not only to improve my social and emotional health, but also to help gain perspective.  There is always more work that I could be doing, so I must be deliberate about prioritising time outside of work.  I have deliberately taken up hobbies which do not allow me to be thinking about work when I am doing them, which has had a great impact.  Third, I focus on grounding myself in realities—focussing on not letting the challenges I face appear insurmountable, or the pressure become crushing. 

• What are some of the biggest challenges you face when addressing mental health in the workplace, and how do you overcome them?

The biggest challenge is breaking down the stigma about discussing mental health struggles.  Almost every lawyer I know has struggled at one point or another; but it can be intimidating to say that we’re not OK.  I think the profession has come a long way and is far more accepting of an open discourse on mental health.  But despite that, I know that the unrelenting standards we impose on ourselves can, if not appropriately moderated, be destructive to mental health.

• What advice would you give to other CEOs or leaders who are hesitant to address mental health in their organisations?

Be vulnerable.  To me, leadership is creating an environment in which everyone feels comfortable and safe to talk about the challenges they face, including mental health.  High performing sports teams have long understood the importance of mental health; and it seems that professional and corporate environments are taking some time to catch up.