The concept of Ben Stiller’s Severance has sparked conversation at home, work, over-heard in a coffee shop, and dinner parties. In the two-season sci-fi television show, part of the nation has decided to become “severed,” which separates a person’s true self outside of work (their “outie”) from their self inside of work (their “innie”). Characters who have a “severed-self” have no recollection of their other life and can therefore compartmentalize work and home life with no effort since the innie part of them has no idea about the outie part of them, and vice versa. It gives a whole new meaning to “not taking work home with you.”
It's a gripping show, and let’s admit it, it’s breached the question in all of us, especially lawyers who struggle with work-life balance, would I consider being severed?
In recent studies, over 60 percent of respondents claimed they would leave their current law firm to gain a stronger work-life balance. So, what if we could focus on matters without stressing over the kid’s soccer schedule, or if at home we could truly “log-off” and enjoy a vacation without our minds drifting to the stack of paperwork on our desks?
But here’s the thing – imagine an “innie” meeting with a client who's anxious over a looming court date. The client starts crying, explaining how much this case means for their family’s future, but the innie lawyer just sits there, blinking, having zero emotional context or memory of family, stress, or anything beyond its work tasks. Because remember, an innie is the identity one has that is confined to the office. They have no memories outside of the office. They are almost robotic. This does not benefit legal clients, but it perhaps might shield the attorney from compassion fatigue which is all too prevalent in our profession.
It’s clear that some kind of balance needs to be placed with legal professionals, but “whole-self” energy is actually a vital part of working in law. I want to be able to empathize with my client; I just don’t want it to consume my home life.
What the severed self lacks is the ability to pull from personal and historical experiences to bring empathy and emotional knowledge to their conversations and decision-making. And, whether we’re aware of this or not during the hectic workday, empathy in legal work is essential to fostering your client relationships and achieving a healthy work culture.
In fact, Kristin B. Gerty, professor at BYU Law School, writes that, “[e]mpathy and compassion must go hand in hand with ‘thinking like a lawyer,’ and caring actually makes analysis stronger.”
In Severance, the character Mark’s innie is missing a major empathy chip. In a scene where he finds out about the passing of his outie’s wife, his innie has zero clue about the emotional weight of the situation. So, when his coworkers try to comfort him, the innie just doesn’t get it, and is unable to connect with his coworkers meaningfully during this moment. This disconnect throws off the ability to bond, leaving an emotional gap in human-to-human interactions.
Lawyers who don’t find ways to emotionally resonate risk:
Imagine: A mentor “Innie” who has no access to personal experiences, boldly advises a new associate on managing a testy client, “[j]ust tell them to calm down, like how I stay calm despite my clients wailing about how their lives have been ruined.” Empathy is key to being a truly great attorney.
A central conflict in Severance revolves around whether separating work and personal life enhances or harms well-being. While the idea of being able to “shut off” after work and remain laser-focused at the office sounds ideal, bringing your "whole self" to work is actually essential for combating burnout.
Being able to share your life experience with others at your firm allows them to see the big picture of your world and why you may need an extra hand here and there or a day off every so often. Understanding the personal responsibilities and passions of your teammates creates a transparency that strengthens teamwork and opens the door to a healthier work-life balance.
Sharing those experiences also fosters deeper connections. In fact, a recent study found respondents with a best friend at work are seven times more likely to be engaged at their jobs, leading to better performance and greater fulfillment.
Balancing caseloads, clients, time tracking, and billing feels like a never-ending to-do list, and it’s important to remember that your life outside of work matters just as much. A key is having the ability to bring pieces of your personal experiences into your professional life, and vice versa, creating empathy and connection.
Emotionally resonating drives success with your clients, your coworkers, family, and peers. And while a severed-self is a fun concept to discuss at a dinner party, we ask you to bring all of your experiences to the table, too.
