Welcome to the first ‘Lawyers as Leaders’ newsletter! My aim in creating this newsletter is to continue the conversation about the complexities and opportunities of leadership in law, whether that is in private practice, at the Bar, in-house or anywhere else that we, as lawyers, find ourselves leading!
Disclaimer: I have no ‘secret sauce’ to share that will respond to all the elements of leadership in the world of law, but I do have quite a bit of experience in working with leaders (at all levels and in all positions) and through this I am developing a deeper understanding of what is happening, what’s working well and how we, in this profession, can elevate our skills together.
One thing that I would love to see developing further is the concept that lawyers become leaders (small ‘l’) as soon as they enter the profession. Let’s start sharing our thoughts, insights and mentorship around this topic at the very earliest stage of a lawyer’s career when they take on their first role. Leadership happens every day in small ways and the more we foster and reward positive skills in this area, surely the better this will be for the profession. My personal favourite everyday leadership skills that really support the practice of law (in whatever form) are:
– Listening is a superpower – do much more of it!
– Encourage & empower others – not only will this yield results, it will also greatly support your colleagues and clients;
– Seek to understand as many perspectives as you possibly can – there is always a story to recognise and appreciate.