New OBA podcast to focus on what makes a diverse, healthy and productive workplace

Charlene Theodore, president of the Ontario Bar Association, has created Work That Works, a new podcast seeking to examine legal and other cutting-edge workplaces and to determine what makes for a diverse, healthy and productive workplace.

“I have spent a large part of my career focused on workplaces – viewing operations from both the management and labour sides,” stated Theodore in the news release. “I’ve seen the unifying sense of purpose and desire to contribute and succeed that drives every team member working toward common goals.”

Theodore said that she has witnessed the challenges that have prevented the realization of goals and ambitions in workplaces. Solutions to these challenges may be identified through the dissection of systems, structures, objectives and tactics, she said.

The podcast aims to explore what is working and what is not working in legal workplaces and how lawyers and law firms may reimagine their manner of work and service of clients to strike an effective balance and to allow change to happen. With this, lawyers may have the opportunity to perform their best work.

“We will give you an insiders’ look at what innovative law firms are doing to help their lawyers and clients thrive,” wrote Theodore on the “About the Podcast” webpage. “We will also look at success stories from outside of our profession. We know there are workplaces that have got things right, and we’re bringing those solutions straight to you.”

The episodes of the podcast are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms, as well as via the OBA’s website, which also compiles the resources that are inspired by the podcast discussion. These resources, which are exclusively accessible by OBA members, will benefit both junior and senior lawyers, regardless of the size of their firm or practice.

The resources on the OBA’s website include worksheets, checklists and other tools, which are intended to assist lawyers with the practical implementation of the new concepts introduced during the podcast episodes and to act as a blueprint for future change.

The OBA invites its members to visit online platforms such as its LinkedIn group or its Twitter account to engage with and to seek moral support from the community.