When a law firm hires me to work with a junior associate, very often one part of the engagement centers on the associate’s leadership presence and self-confidence – how he or she presents to others. (Of course, that focus is not by any means unique to junior associates.) Although reviewers may use a variety of […]
What happens to your business development activity when you get busy? If you’re like many others, you may find that it slips. I’ve had more than a handful of clients who hire me to ramp up their rainmaking, and they succeed – right to the point that they’re so busy they pause and start backsliding. […]
We all face challenges in the business of a law practice. We were taught in law school that we have to ask the right questions in practice to get the necessary answers for our clients. (Litigators, you especially know what I mean!) But somehow, we forget what that means for our own businesses. I recently […]
In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it. — Robert Heinlein You may be wondering how this relates to the law. Practice keeps you busy. Really busy. Aside from the rare (and, frankly, frightening) slow times that crop up occasionally, there’s always […]
Business is the greatest personal development tool that exists. The moment you take responsibility for your work and for generating and serving clients, you become your own best asset. That’s why you must invest in yourself. If you don’t grow, your business won’t grow. Give that some thought the next time you’re faced with an […]
I don’t encourage failure… Mostly. It’s helpful to assess and mitigate the risks of failure when you’re stepping out with a new activity. There’s no glory in the “ready, fire, aim” approach when you have the time and the ability to do some (but not too much) preparatory work that increases the odds of success. […]
Working on a professional association committee or project is a good way to get leadership experience quickly. The reason is simple: because of the number and variety of professional associations (such as the ABA and local bar associations, the International Coach Federation, Professional Photographers of America, Licensing Executives Society, etc.) and the number and variety […]
One of the top client complaints received by bar associations across the country has to do with lawyers’ failure to return telephone calls. I haven’t seen statistics, but I suspect that clients also complain about lawyers who fail to answer email. Clients expect that their lawyer will communicate with them in a timely manner, and […]
Be committed. What’s the first thing you think when you think of commitment in the context of your business? Without commitment in three particular areas of business, success is unlikely. Commitment to succeeding in the business. What’s your backup plan if your business doesn’t prosper? Some professionals (especially the risk-averse, like lawyers) need to have […]
You’ve put in your dues. You’ve worked hard to become the accomplished professional you are now, and you have all manner of credentials that demonstrate your expertise. You’ve worked with (and probably even held leadership roles with) a variety of organizations, you’ve written articles and book chapters, and you may even have served a turn […]