You are an excellent litigator! Is that the ultimate measure of success in your firm? While your legal knowledge and technical ability is critical, in today’s environment demonstrating other highly desirable skills may very well be the deciding factor in expanding your opportunity for growth within the firm. Senior leaders are looking for individuals who demonstrate well rounded business acumen. They look for other important attributes and contributions related to fostering new business, mentoring others, being a leader in community affairs and demonstrating creative problem solving to name just a few. If you haven’t asked yourself lately what added value you bring to the firm, you can be sure someone is asking it about you!
It’s important for you to know what skills and abilities your leadership values. I recommend that you take the time to consciously observe and take note of those individuals you view as highly successful in the firm. Ask questions of them and observe what actions they take and where they put their priorities. How do they manage their time? What do they do that is significant and different that adds great value to the firm? What do they view as critical to success in today’s business culture? Gather a true picture of what is important in the firm, take the time to assess where you put your priorities and what you feel might be the added value you bring. Ask yourself if your assessment of your own actions matches the expectations within the firm’s culture.
Design a plan to address your own personal and professional development. Identify where you can take action and contribute on a new and different level. Make sure that it encompasses what is most valued and good for the firm. For some reason, the higher up the chain we go, the more secure we tend to feel. We should be operating in today’s environment as if the opposite were true. There was a time when under-performing resources at higher levels appeared to have greater job security than under-performing resources in more entry level positions. In law firms that are operating in a strong business model, this is not necessarily true. The plan you craft to bring additional value to the firm should be designed for the specific culture and needs of your firm. Look to what is valued today and what will be valued tomorrow. Step out of your comfort zone and look to what contributions you might make, particularly in an area where everyone feels something needs to be done but no one is yet addressing it….this is the height of added value.