⚖ Learnings from the happenstance of my life as a lawyer ⚖

Lawyer Learnings Log No. 2: The power of small - it’s actually big ✅

Often, we don’t know that the little things we say have a massive impact on others 💥

I was reminded of this recently by a legal staff member at one of my large corporate clients.

I work with in-house legal teams to teach them #LegalEnglish communication skills. A few months ago, they shared their next financial year resolutions. First year employee “Ms. S” said hers was: “I want to be able to contribute to the team in my second year”.

Jump ahead to now. Ms. S pulls out the below-pictured ice-breaker card as the lesson starts. Ms. S announces: “That person is you.” Cue gasp from me.

“Catherine, you told me I don’t have to wait until next year; that I am already contributing with the little things even though I don’t realize it.”

I had completely forgotten I said that.

But my words had stuck with her.

“It was my first job” she continued. “I wasn’t confident & struggled. But hearing your words really #motivated me.”

Wow Ms. S - your words just motivated ME!😍

So what are my #lawyerlearnings? There are 4️⃣ x learnings. Check them out below👇

#1 Be conscious of everyday utterances because they impact others in ways we may never know. 💥

#2 Even small, positive words said in passing, have real significance for the listener. 💥

#3 Our small words of motivation for others, become big words of motivation when when mirrored back at us. 💥

#4 We have even more responsibility as leaders in firms and corporations to encourage and look after our younger work community. They are dealing with a whole different way of work as they start their careers compared to anything we every had to challenge starting out on ours. 💥

🗣Has anyone ever said something small but powerful to you in your career?