Lessons in leadership from those who are there
By Camille Stell, Special to CPN
Leadership books are available by the dozens and are authored by everyone from corporate titans to record-setting basketball coaches.
Here are leadership lessons drawn from closer to home, from leaders of our local and statewide paralegal associations.
Jennifer L. Watford, paralegal with Young Moore Henderson and former president of the Raleigh Wake Paralegal Association, told how her first failure led to later success.
“When I was vice president of education, I was caught off guard by needing a guest speaker for the January membership meeting. I was elected in the fall and my term began in January. I had not yet begun to identify potential speakers, which caused me and other board members to have to scramble. This could have been easily avoided. I learned I would be more effective when I was proactive and checked off my to-do list in advance. Fire drills occur regularly enough. We try to avoid them at work, so I carry that philosophy over to my volunteer work.”
Maximize your service
Jackie Houser, former paralegal and now a lawyer with Walker, Allen, Grice, Ammons & Foy, shared this insight with regard to developing leadership skills:
“My advice – to people like me who don’t come in with lots of leadership experience – would be to get involved in a committee. Enlist a friend or colleague so in addition to learning, the work can be fun. During the next term, find a position that interests you and volunteer to serve as a committee chair. Before committing to the assignment, make sure you understand what is involved. Some committees simply work and report, while other committees require creativity. Most importantly, find work within your association that you will enjoy. Once you begin to serve as a committee chair, you will see that every leadership position requires skill to keep the committee on course. You will develop leadership skills in these positions that will serve you well as you rise through the ranks.”
Deborah L. Lawrence, business development manager for Huseby, Inc., said, “One thing I learned in my management role is that people easily complain about what’s wrong in a firm, an organization or association, but very few step up to the plate to volunteer their time to make a difference. I used to tell my employees they should feel free to come and complain to me anytime about anything, but they needed to provide at least one suggestion on how to make the situation they were complaining about better. Offering solutions provides you the opportunity to make a
difference.”
A former president of the Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association and former officer and board member of the North Carolina Paralegal Association, Lawrence said: “Once I started volunteering at the local level, with the encouragement of my colleagues, it seemed a natural progression to take my volunteer efforts to the state level. While I held positions during some of my busiest times at work, I managed to get everything done at my job and in the volunteer position. I didn’t always have the most balanced life, but it is possible to participate in your community outside of your job. You just have to become adept at managing your time and priorities … and isn’t that what paralegals do every day?”
Find your passion
An advantage to developing your leadership skills is that your employer can also reap the benefits of your new skill set and the added confidence you exhibit.
The best advice comes from Marion A. Young, a paralegal with Narron, O’Hale and Whittington, PA, and current chair of the NCBA Paralegal Division: “Find something that you are passionate about and get involved. Once you begin to volunteer for committees and projects, you will meet others that share your interest. Encourage others and be a team player. You will discover so much more about yourself when you step out in faith to do something that you really love. Being a paralegal can involve more than collecting a paycheck. You spend much of your time on the job, find a way to give back what you know and you will grow so much in your skills and add value to those you work with. You will find joy in going to work when you have the confidence to do a great job.”
Now, go out there and volunteer. As Walt Disney said, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
What’s on your mind or being discussed at your water cooler? Let me know.
Camille Stell is the director of client services for Lawyers Mutual. With more than 20 years of experience in the legal field, she has worked for law firms as a paralegal, legal recruiter and business developer. Contact her at 1-800-662-8843 or camille@lawyersmutualnc.com.
