BSK Strategies’ Post

In last week’s post, I mentioned that I had been asked what advice I would give to new business owners (special attention - new law firm owners!) I proposed several recommendations that I consider non-negotiable for success. This week, let’s focus here: "Surround yourself with people smarter than you, who can teach you new ideas, new approaches and new perspectives." This wise quote has been attributed to several successful leaders. There are many benefits to surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you for your growth as an individual and as an entrepreneur. Perhaps the only thing worse than being the smartest person in the room is believing you’re the smartest person in the room. Seeing yourself as more intelligent than others is a dangerous game. The risk is that you’re more prone to dismissing others' ideas quickly and pursuing your own agenda based on a false sense of confidence. 🚀 You Can’t Grow in Your Comfort Zone.  Comfort zones are safe, but they are also limiting. Discomfort is where true growth happens. It propels you to take on challenges you might otherwise shy away from and builds your resilience and adaptability. Growing muscle memory beyond your comfort zone has cumulative and enduring benefits.  📚 Learn from the Best.  Think of it as having access to a living library of expertise. Each interaction with a mentor, colleague or peer who has a wealth of experience provides you with invaluable insights and lessons that you might not acquire on your own. Absorbing their wisdom helps you avoid common pitfalls and fast tracks your learning process. 🛠️ Build Valuable Relationships.  Being in the company of top-tier professionals expands your network and access to new opportunities, leading to collaborations, referrals and partnerships that significantly enhance your practice. Moreover, being seen as someone who seeks out and values excellence enhances your personal brand and positioning as a forward-thinking leader. (In a prior post, I contended that competition takes place at the bottom and collaboration takes place at the top. Think how much that applies here!) As a lawyer, your journey to excellence is continuous. By surrounding yourself with individuals who are smarter, more skilled, and more experienced, you create an environment that challenges you to grow, innovate, and excel. Step out of your comfort zone, embrace the wisdom of those around you, and watch your practice flourish. To learn more about realizing your vision of your practice and your future - let’s talk. #newbusiness #lawyers #learnfromthebest #bskstrategies ********************** 👋 I’m Barbara and lawyers and law firms hire me to show them how to grow and scale their practices, increase revenue and create a pipeline of ideal clients. 👉 Here you learn about: business development, personal branding, storytelling, overcoming imposter syndrome and client retention.

What comes to mind when you read this statement? “Take command of your brand.” On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = not at all, 5 = I’m 100% in command), what would you rate yours? During these tenuous times, it is critical to command the strategies that control how you shape your career and show up for clients, connections and colleagues. You are the CEO and chief marketer of Me, Inc. — and now is the time to take charge. There are seven questions to ask yourself in order to define your brand. Here are the first three to get you started:   🏆 What distinguishes you and your practice?  🔍 Is it relevant and memorable?  ⏳ Does it carry you into the future? To get the other four questions, check out the full article being used by the Columbia Law School class on law firm marketing here: https://lnkd.in/e4yrtbPZ Need some support on how best to take command of your brand to attract your ideal clients, future proof your practice for success and earn the respect and recognition you deserve? Let’s talk. Comment below or DM me using the word “chat” and we’ll set something up. #branding #lawyers #marketing #bskstrategies ************************** 👋 I’m Barbara and I help lawyers and law firms grow and scale their practices, increase revenue and create a pipeline of ideal clients. 👉 You will learn about: business development, personal branding, storytelling, imposter syndrome and client retention.

Dear Extroverts (check last week’s post, Introverts!), Many people may assume that holiday party season is easy and comes naturally for you, but we all can benefit from tips that help refine and achieve even greater success in making the most of holiday gatherings: ❊ Initiate conversations and be inclusive. Taking the lead in starting conversations and paying attention to those who may be less comfortable can be key in making people feel welcome. Smile, introduce yourself and ask open-ended questions to keep the conversation flowing. ❊ Introduce others and act as a connector. If you know people at the party with common interests, create a more dynamic social environment by bringing people together. Use that gift of networking for the greater good! ❊ Respect personal space. Extroverts typically derive energy from social interactions and external stimuli, while their introverted peers may find socializing draining and need time alone to recharge. ❊ Express enthusiasm (and be mindful of dominating conversations). Showing genuine excitement can fill the room with positive energy, but it's important to pay attention to non-verbal cues and ensure that you are not perceived as overwhelming or crossing personal boundaries. ❊ Share positive stories and feedback. This can create a lighthearted vibe to contribute to the festive event and earn validation from others, which can be a powerful source of energy. ❊ Use your communication style. Your outgoing nature can create a comfort zone for others who do not share your personality type. They will value you and your contribution. ❊ Follow up. After the party, reconnect with people you met or saw at the event. Sending a quick message expressing your enjoyment of their company and interest in future interactions can make a substantial impact on relationships you are seeking to build. Extroverts can play a key role in creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere at holiday parties. Remember that the key is to strike a balance between your outgoing nature and the comfort of those around you. Play to your strengths and put your style and temperament to work for you. Use your personality to your advantage and that of others. For more like this year-round – let’s talk. #extroverts #partyseason #beinclusive #bskstrategies

When you look at this image, what does it conjure up? It's a sea of penguins (ahem, lawyers?), and none of them stands out. How you distinguish yourself, how you separate yourself from the pack, how you showcase your skills and talents are all critical to being the one that is chosen, the one that is hired, the one they want. For example, have you noticed how often attorney bios sound alike? The language, the phrasing, the tone? Instead, what if you told stories that distinguish you? Think of this image as a plea to remember that, if you don't want to appear like everybody else (look alike, sound alike, write alike, talk alike), it is incumbent upon you to set yourself apart in the eyes and minds of prospective clients hiring legal talent. One way to stand out is to focus on storytelling. It MUST be client-centric. It's not about what you are selling, it is about what they are buying. This means when you're creating, commenting, posting or sharing thought leadership, you need to walk in your client's shoes and view your offering from their perspective. They get to choose and set the criteria for how your value will be measured. How you share your story must resonate with them. Consider these when crafting a story: ➤ Is this deserving of the attention I seek? Attention is scarce these days. ➤ Does this meet the self-interest of the listener? People listen when what you share aligns with their needs, priorities, values and situations. ➤ Am I connecting with them in the language they best understand? People want to see and hear themselves in your stories. ➤ Am I sharing successes that matter? Clients love to hear how you have successfully handled other related work. There is no one right way. All you have to do is think about the difference you make. Go for it! Everyone can do this - let's talk. #storytelling #clientfocus #standout #bskstrategies https://lnkd.in/eE8vaN-D

Have you positioned yourself as a future-ready lawyer? The lists have begun. We're already inundated with suggestions and to-dos for 2024. Let's take a step back using a different approach this year. Choose one new initiative to focus on that will ramp up your practice in how it is managed and how it is perceived by others. A good starting point is a fresh look at the components of client service that, through feedback interviews, have given firms insight into how decisions are made - which firms to hire and which deserve loyalty. The pandemic brought the future to the present. Upleveling your practice will enable you to meet higher expectations for client relations and performance. Here are a few options: ➤ Differentiate your firm. Clients really want you to know their business as well or better than they do. Understanding your client’s business means you have an appreciation for the impact legal decisions will have on their business. Your legal advice and recommendations should consider and reflect your clients' industry dynamics, business objectives, marketplace events and competitive pressures. This business-outcome-based approach is the single strongest differentiator for law firms. And, it is the single biggest driver of premium rates. Become a student of the industries each of your clients is in. ➤ Embrace innovation. Learn and use new technology to improve productivity and performance. Not only will you attract younger talent and potentially younger clients, you will also implement new systems, use social media platforms differently and/or change the way you communicate internally and externally. ➤ Customize and personalize. Legal skills are poor differentiators — meaning legal decision makers can find many firms with the legal skills required for their work. Differentiation is packaged in a mindset that shows up in customization and personalization. Clients want solutions that are designed for their culture, their goals, their personalities and their priorities. Clients are coming to you with higher expectations than ever before for both relationships and performance. Pick one of the initiatives above, or another you have identified, and do it really well. This gives confidence in your work and the potential outcome, mitigating uncertainty by showing each of your clients that you are with them every step of their journey. For more - let's talk. #clientloyalty #differentiation #exceedexpectations #bskstrategies