Recently, I have been reflecting on choices, skills and strategies that have been helpful to me along the way. Here I share several that have risen to the top. I’d also love to hear your feedback about lessons you would share with your younger self or a young attorney.

1. Develop your resilience. Resilience is “the ability to bounce back, grow, and thrive through stress, challenge, and adversity.” (http://bit.ly/1g17RSm) Resilience is a trait shown by great companies and great leaders. (http://bit.ly/1g18w6t) Yet, attorneys consistently score quite low on this trait. Research by a leading psychologist shows that the general public scores in the 50th percentile of resilience, but that 90% of attorneys fall below that, with an average score in the bottom third. (http://bit.ly/1jJsPZJ) There are conscious ways to increase one’s resilience, however. Among the strategies experts recommend are developing flexible and accurate thinking, regulating your thinking and emotional responses, being self-aware, developing strong social connections, acting with meaning and purpose, and developing an optimistic mindset. Several of these strategies have made a difference for me. If you’d like to learn more, here’s an excellent source article focused on increasing resilience in lawyers. (http://bit.ly/1dvBzoe)

2. “Watch for what you like” in other people. I learned this helpful tool from communications experts, Allegory Inc. (http://www.allegoryinc.com/) It applies when speaking to just one person, a larger audience, and even in court. Watching for what you like in others literally changes your physiological response to them – your body relaxes and the positivity crowds out negative thoughts. This is particularly helpful when going into conflict. I am not suggesting taking an artificially rosy view of difficult situations, but feeling empathy and positivity, rather than focusing on negativity, tension or nervousness. Try it. See what you think

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Read the 2014 Board Candidates Statements here


Upcoming Lawyers Club
Events:

2014 Annual Dinner with Keynote Speaker The Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor, Retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States - May 8, 2014

Update 2/24/14: Due to peak interest, event sponsorships and event tickets for the Presidential Ballroom are sold out. There are limited tickets available in the adjacent Executive Ballroom, which will offer the same caliber of service, dinner, and an even more intimate networking experience. The entire program, including award presentations and Justice O’Connor’s address, will be live-streamed for concurrent viewing by our guests in the Executive Ballroom. Please email Elaine Lawrence for further details.

April Monthly Luncheon "Take Your Child to Work"
    - April 24th

Helen Wan Breakfast program "Gender, Race and Outsider Status: All in a Day's Work for Women of Color"
    - April 25th

22nd Annual Golf Tournament
    - June 6th

"Informed Voters - Fair Judges" - a project of the National Association of Women Judges. Watch the introductory video "Fair and Free", featuring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. To learn more, visit: http://ivp.nawj.org/