Law Firm Marketing – A Search for Leadership
In ancient instances the totem pole was a symbolic expression of past generations. It presented information about a tribe’s identity–a type of linear -understanding of generations that came just before them and the leaders who showed them the way. It enforced group solidarity and offered a needed relational context to their lives.
The totem pole was worshiped and ritualized. The history of a complete tribe could be understood by this one linear expression. Symbolic communication, as a group organizing method, is also identified in law firms. Law firms proudly list their partners’ names on letterhead and post them on doorways. Generally some of the names are symbols of the previous–a lasting recognition of those who came prior to as effectively as these who are presently carrying the torch of the firm’s traditions into the future. This symbolic communication portrays the history of a firm’s leader-ship and is an indicator of predicted performance. But what happens when the firm’s past is forced to yield to the firm’s future? When it becomes necessary for the firm to reinvent itself and set out new organizing principles that match its vision–when the old belief system is no longer in sync with the needs and demands of changing markets and clientele? Most firms are facing this challenge proper now, and some are not even conscious of it. The partners I spoke with clearly recognized the want to re-invent themselves or risk sacrificing development and prosperity.
Are You the Leader?
Who amongst you will lead the charge? This is a quite private choice that really should not be taken lightly. It will rely not only on your personal willingness to take on the challenge, but also on the willingness of the key partners who make up most of the power base at your firm.
If you are up for the challenge, accept this expertise and get on with leading. If not, uncover the particular person in your firm who is prepared and able to lead and give that individual all the help you can. You will quickly realize that the quality and commitment of your help for this person will be recognized as an critical form of leader-ship in its personal ideal.
The Genetics of Leadership
It is been said that some folks are born leaders. Similac Lawyer could be correct, but for most of us, leadership is an acquired talent that comes from our mind-set and our want to impact constructive adjust. Similarly, persons are not born extraordinary. As an alternative, they select to achieve extraordinary items.
As not too long ago as 2003, scientists discovered that our natural traits are not “set in stone.” (See Matt Ridley’s Genome and Nature by way of Nurture.) Rather, our genetic code–specially the code accountable for our brain function–is neither unchanging nor unchangeable. As we respond to the challenges and stimuli in the world, so do our genes. Depending upon our demands and the degree of our determination, different formulations of our genetic code are activated. This outcomes in the emergence of a new pattern of genetic instructions. Contrary to what scientists formerly believed, our genes remain active, malleable and fluid throughout our lives.
Until these discoveries have been made, the received wisdom was that the traits that enable us to consider like lawyers or strive for excellence or uncover the courage and charisma to lead had been handed out to us–or not–at birth. It was taken as truth that our neural makeup was mostly dictated by the genetic code we inherited from our parents. If we have been fortunate enough to have inherited “sensible” genes, it was anticipated that we have been destined for greatness if the opposite occurred, we had been destined to be the village idiot.
In reality, the cause so handful of of us break out of the mold is not due to genetics at all. It really is for the reason that of the fact that, strange as it may perhaps sound, most of us surrender to our strengths rather than engage our weaknesses. If we tend to be naturally gifted in mathematics, we gravitate toward mathematics. If we show an early talent in the arts, we gravitate in that direction. It really is simply less difficult to rely on our current strengths than it is to develop new strengths from scratch.
Psychologist and theorist Carl Jung described this irony in his book Psychological Kinds:
“Experience shows that it is hardly attainable for any-a single to bring all his psychological functions to simultaneous development. The extremely circumstances of society enforce a man to apply himself initial and foremost to the differentiation of that function with which he is either most gifted by nature, or which gives his most productive means for social results. Extremely often, certainly as a common rule, a man identifies himself extra or significantly less fully with the most favored, therefore the most created function.”
Given that Jung’s time, having said that, neuroscientists have discovered that the human tendency to stick to the path of least resistance is not merely ironic but counter-productive. We now know that the brain grows stronger, establishing at a a lot larger level, when we force ourselves to feel in new and unique ways.
Until now, you may perhaps not have thought of your self as a leader. But that is no explanation to believe you can’t develop into one particular if your motivation is robust sufficient. The 1st question to ask yourself is this: What does it mean to be a leader?