Influence
Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion
by Robert B. Cialdini
The Like Switch: An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Influencing, Attracting, and Winning People Over
by Jack Schafer Ph.D. with Marvin Karlins Ph.D.
Crucial Conversations: Influencer The Power To Change Anything
by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan & Al Switzler
Upcoming Presentation for Texas Minority Counsel Program
I am pleased to announce that I will be speaking at the 32nd Annual Texas Minority Counsel Program on October 24, 2024 at 3:45 pm. I will be discussing how getting recognized and valued as an essential advisor requires anticipating the client’s legal needs and providing competent legal advice. Yet, that is just the ante to get into the game. The attorney must know how to communicate strategically and in ways that are beneficial from the perspective of each recipient. This CLE aims to teach lawyers how to deliver high quality legal services by communicating ethically and effectively with multiple levels of stakeholders.
There are many interesting topics throughout the program on October 24-25, 2024. I am particularly looking forward to the closing presentation by Katie Phang, Host of the Katie Phang Show and Legal Contributor and Legal Correspondent for NBC & MSNBC. Take a look at the TMCP brochure to further look into who will be speaking and their topics. Click here to register for the program.
-Debra Bruce
5 Common Concerns When Delegating Work and How to Tackle Them
1 “If I don’t do it myself, it will not be done right”
This is the first thought that comes to our minds when delegating isn’t part of our everyday routine yet. It’s common and understandable, yet it’s far from being beneficial for you or your firm. Believing that you’re the only person that can perform a task effectively will not only make you waste resources but, if you think about it, it can also be a little naive. For example, how many good law firms are out there? How many competent, efficient, committed, and even perfectionist legal practitioners have you met throughout your entire career? How many people are as passionate as you about law, that will want to perform their job properly? You can be absolutely certain that there are people out there that can, and will, be the right fit for your practice, the key is knowing how to choose the right person. […]
How to Turn Clients Away Without Creating Offense
I’ve written about warning signs that a potential new client may be a train wreck waiting to happen to your law practice. If you pay attention to such warnings, then you may find yourself wondering just how to turn clients away without creating offense. That’s just what one of my clients struggled with recently. Here are my thoughts and thoughts from other attorneys, too.
How NOT to Turn Clients Away
Attorneys have a variety of ways that they handle potentially undesirable clients. Here are 3 methods that I do NOT recommend using to decline the representation. […]
Lists Improve Lawyer Time Management
“Duh! Tell me something I don’t already know,” you might have said to yourself when you read this headline about lawyer time management. I’m sure you already have some kind of list on your desk, on your computer, or on your mobile device right now. And yet, I frequently find myself coaching lawyers about creating and reviewing lists to improve lawyer time management and reduce the overwhelm of modern law practice.
There are many different kinds of lists with different functions and different ways to manage them. This post will include a “list of lists” and a brief description of their benefits or functionality. Check out David Allen’s, best-selling book Getting Things Done and his website of the same name for more elaboration on some of these ideas. I also invite you to share your suggested additions to this list in the comments below. […]
Where Can I Find a Virtual Paralegal to Match My Practice?
“There just are not enough hours in the day to do everything myself! I want to improve my work-life balance by delegating tasks, but no one is available. I keep reading and hearing about virtual paralegals and virtual assistants as affordable options, but I wonder: Where can I find virtual support which meets the needs of my law practice?”
Solo and small firm attorneys often share these same thoughts. For both groups, virtual paralegal or virtual assistant support is often the perfect solution provided you find the assistant who matches your needs. The first step is deciding what task(s) you want to delegate. That list will grow quickly if you could find the right person. Your next move will be checking out the following sources to identify the names of virtual paralegals or virtual assistants who have experience in your practice area. […]