Powerful Women Plan and Prepare

I'm on a mission to propel more women lawyers to power positions where they can have more control over their careers, compensation, and courage. Today, we talk about the power of reflection and how to do it effectively.

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“Do you think she woke up one day and said I think I’ll go to Law School today?” - Legally Blonde 

None of us winged it when applying to law school and our first jobs. We all planned and prepared. We studied for our classes, LSATs, and exams. We also engaged in extra-curricular activities and cultivated the right network for recommendations.  

And then, somewhere along the way, many of us put our heads down, practiced law, and stopped preparing for goals. Because we were mistaken in believing that being excellent at legal work would get us to our objectives. It does not. 

And women who reach power positions in the law know this. They know advancement means planning and preparing—and not relying just on doing the job. They understand that an investment in themselves is an investment in their future.

Here are three tips for planning and preparing for the future you want and all the flexibility and financial freedom it brings.

Tip 1. Do Your Research

The first step is understanding your end goal and then researching what skills, experiences, and behaviors you need to get there. You can do this by looking at what successful people in those roles have done, interviewing people, and doing market research.  

For this exercise to be fulsome, you must think as broadly as possible and dig deep. Remember, this is not just about the legal matters they handled. Think about things like management experience (including committees, not just direct reporting relationships), speaking engagements, ability to influence and navigate politics, rainmaking skills, and gravitas. Also, consider the strategic relationships they built and the initiatives and organizations they belong to and lead.

You then want to look for common themes and compare them to your skills, experience, and behaviors. Look for areas to highlight as you move forward and places where you may want to fill the gap. You also want to prioritize which ones are the most important.

Tip 2. Welcome Feedback and Information

People are not always the best at evaluating their own skills, behavior, and experiences. You want to get perspectives from others on your strengths and opportunities. Start by looking at reviews and 360 feedback.

Next, you should speak to a variety of people who have seen you in action (both in jobs and professional organizations) and, if possible, also understand your goal. Again, you are not only focusing on legal experiences. Becoming a rainmaker or climbing the corporate ladder are often more linked to non-lawyer skills than your technical ones. 

You want to ask them about your strengths and opportunities. It would be best if you also asked how to leverage the strengths and mitigate any possible derailers. Finally, you want to learn their insights about the goals and how people have obtained them. 

Remember to listen without judgment, ask them if there is anyone else, they recommend talking to, and thank them for their time. 

Tip 3. Invest Time in a Plan and Yourself.

Here is the hard part: understand all the data and inputs you have gathered and draft a plan to move you forward. The actions and time frames need to be very specific- think SMART Goals (Smart, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant & Timely).  

Often people do not address feedback such as “does not speak at partners meetings,” “uses too much legalese,” “too negative,” or “too risk averse” in these plans. You have to address these behaviors if they are holding you back. 

By taking the time to build a plan, you are creating a road map to develop. It is a time investment but will pay itself because you will not have to keep re-inviting the well.

A successful plan is realistic; you need to build accountability and check in with people on how you are doing with any behavioral changes. 

Powerful women attorneys do not just wake up to have the careers they desire. They carefully curate their careers to have the impact, flexibility, and financial freedom they want.

What more insights?

If you want to plan for the second half of your year, please reach out to me for one of my five complimentary sessions this month.

Sheila is the CEO of Focus Forward Consulting. She helps intelligent and accomplished women lawyers go from uncertain and uninspired to unstoppable and attain power positions where they have greater control of their careers, compensation, and courage.