Horsham lawyer says being on furlough is ‘like being an injured athlete’

Elise Sherwell, who works for PDT Solicitors in Horsham, has spoken out about what it is like to be furloughed in a bid to help others.

And, she says, she has drawn on her experience as an elite sportswoman to help her through.

“Things moved very quickly from the end of February. Like most people, I had that moment of dread as the epidemic became a pandemic and as the news was filled with stories of new hospitals being built, job losses and business closures,” she said.

“When I retired as an Olympic rower after a 10-year career spanning the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, finishing with two Olympic bronze medals, I had a law degree under my belt and transitioned into the workplace easily.

“Twelve years later I still love working in law, I enjoy the work and the PDT team with whom I spend my days. I love the challenge of working out problems together, helping our clients achieve their ambitions.

“Now I am on furlough leave, life has turned upside down and in finding the best way to cope with the turmoil, I have reached for the strategies I used during the periods I was hit by every sportsperson’s nightmare: injury.”

She went on: “When an injury strikes there is no ‘good time’ for it to occur. It just happens, and you have to deal with it.

“Being furloughed is like being an injured athlete. I am not able to train to the same physical level I was at before the injury, but elite sport is about so much more than physical fitness.”

She said besides physical training, mental training and tactical planning made a difference.

“If you are unable to put the physical training in when you are injured, you can still excel in the other areas.

“If nothing else it is a time when the pressure to perform is off and you can reset and refresh mentally.

“Being furloughed is a similar process, especially in an area such as law. Whilst I am no longer client facing, I am still able to work on my mental strength, my research, my strategies and most importantly contribute and be part of my team.

“I have the opportunity to take a step back from the pressure of delivering on time for my clients on a day to day basis and consider how I can deliver results more efficiently, both in terms of technology and time management, as well as spending time on my development as a lawyer.

“Applying my lessons learned over years of full-time sport has provided me with the mental strength to deal with unexpected scenarios.

“As our team psychologist used to say ‘control the controllables’. This mantra is as relevant in business as it is sport. I am looking forward to getting back into the race once the time is right.”

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