The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/67910
smart moves Seek a Mentor, Be a Mentor Tom Morrissey: Pay it forward … do a good turn … be a Good Samaritan. All you need to do is look back at your career and identify the people who have helped you along the way, and realize you must do the same. There is no greater reward than helping another person along the road. Some do it in a formal manner and others not so formal. There are no special requirements to be a mentor, other than the willingness to give your time to an individual. Joy Heath Rush: No matter where you are in your career, you have the chance to be helped and help someone. When you join a new organization or start a different job in your existing organization, you are instantly faced with new relationships, procedures and (sadly) politics. You interact with new people or interact with people you already know, but in a different way. Without someone to help you navigate those waters, you could easily become lost or waste precious time ramping up. That is equally true of someone new starting in your organization. When someone new starts, reach out and introduce yourself, describe your areas of expertise and offer yourself as a sounding board or go-to person for questions. You also want to be humble and willing to identify someone who has greater knowledge than you or a different perspective. TJ: I've never sought a formal mentor, but I feel like almost everyone I've worked with or worked for has filled that role to some extent. The ones who provide the best mentoring (either on purpose or by accident) are those who are intensely passionate about what they do and love to share their passion. I think in the same way I have been an accidental mentor to others — striving to provide the best customer service (I view every job as "customer service"), answering questions (always take the time to answer questions) and nurturing and supporting positive efforts. And it's most important to learn how to mentor during unfavorable moments — finding ways to help someone see where they can grow while being honest and supportive, instructive without hurting feelings. Network Inside and Outside Your Organization Joy: Effective networking is not only key to career advancement but to personal growth as well. Networking involves opening yourself up to meeting new people and, most important, listening to their stories. Not every networking opportunity has to involve an exchange of business cards. It starts with smiling at the person next to you in line at the airport, saying hello to someone in the elevator or offering to help someone who looks confused on the street outside your office. Make those initial contacts, start asking questions and listen more than you speak. When you respond, focus on connections you've identified from listening to what the other person had to say. Tom M.: We all need to identify what our goals are when networking. Is it to add to your client base? Are you looking for a new job? Do you simply want to make new friends? You can attend dozens of networking events, but it's more efficient to network with people who can help you achieve your goals. Also, you want to be interestED, not interestING. Be interestED, not interestING. Define Success Tom M.: Most think of success as accomplishing their goals. Others consider it to be leading a fulfilling life as in the Army advertising slogan: "Be all you can be." We all define success differently, and we take different paths to achieve it. I view the road to a successful career as a journey that requires specific training and the skills learned along the way. Training is the key element in any personal or business success. Skill alone can only take you so far, but training is what enhances a person's skill set. Bill: In order to be successful, you must stay confident (without being arrogant). Your future employer/customer/client wants to see someone who will, and knows the best way to, contribute. Stay Relevant Kate: Technology is no longer the sole jurisdiction of IT professionals. It is safe to say that technology has fully infiltrated every corner of both the front and back office of today's law firms and legal departments. The next step along your career path might have you thinking and working beyond standard IT parameters. Accounting departments need resources who understand data architecture AND financial management. Marketing departments need leaders who can define experience data requirements AND understand how to leverage experience information into actionable business development activities. It is not enough to be well-versed in the latest and greatest mobile devices or Microsoft application framework. To be relevant, you must understand the organization's goals and challenges, and how to apply technology to address them. Bill: Be willing to test new waters and look for opportunities to combine what you learn with what you know well. In my case, I 30 Peer to Peer