Not long into her legal career, Sloane Perras recalls a situation in which she failed to meet the expectations of an “extremely demanding” partner. Aware he was unhappy, she immediately developed a plan to address his concerns—even before he asked.

After Perras explained her step-by-step plan to the attorney, “he pulled me aside and said he had never been prouder of an associate,” she says. That partner’s response had a lasting impact on Perras.