“I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail,” wrote Abraham Maslow in The Psychology of Science. For lawyers, that often translates into talking about the law, about legal issues, about rules and regulations and requirements. And that’s precisely where they go wrong when they’re trying to develop and enhance professional relationships, explains Josh Beser in Lawyers: How to Be Valuable … Aside from Practicing Law:
Lawyers have a problem. We’re consistently perceived as experts on one thing: law. This not only dominates how others view us, but also dominates how we view ourselves. If we start talking about law, especially early on in a conversation, we will only be viewed as lawyers. This dramatically limits how others perceive what we can do to help.
Read the post. Then find ways to implement Beser’s three strategies to help others without practicing law. You – and they – will be glad you did.
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