At a presentation to lawyers and marketing people this week at the LMA Triad City Group, I was talking about best practices. I didn’t just suggest tips for those activities that work best IMHO, or planning action items around them, but pointing out that in my experience the biggest obstacle to lawyer business development
coaching
Coaching or The Buddy System
By Tom Kane on
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing Tips
What I especially like about Seth Godin is his pithy posts which plant plenty of powerful (p)ideas in my pons (part of brainstem). Okay, I didn’t do that well on that one, but heck it’s only Tuesday. The point is that his recent brief post about “The Buddy System” got me thinking about a modified…
Thinking of Hiring a Coach? Make Sure You’re Ready
By Tom Kane on
Posted in Marketing Tips
In my almost twenty-five years as a legal marketer, the biggest drawback to success in developing business has been the failure by lawyers to follow through on the strategies they develop. I’ve seen lawyers make stellar efforts in planning effective goals and objectives, only then to fail for the lack of implementation.
That’s where a…
Can A Coach Help You Grow Your Practice?
By Tom Kane on
Posted in Marketing Tips
In a word, YES. Your coach could be a fellow lawyer in your firm, or another solo (who in turn you could coach), or it could be someone else. Basically, the purpose is to engage a friendly, experienced person to offer ideas and remind you (some might refer to it as nagging) to do the…
Six Reasons For Hiring a Coach
By Tom Kane on
Posted in Marketing Tips
Now is a good time to consider gearing up your business development efforts. One way to do that is to hire a coach. And a post over on Jamie Field – Enlightened Rainmaking mentions six reasons for doing so:
- Even superstars have coaches, certainly all pro golfers do, as well as CEOs and other top
…
Interview: What Coaching Is All About
By Tom Kane on
Posted in Marketing Tips
Recently, I had the privilege of being interviewed about coaching and other business development topics by Cole Silver for his Expert Audio Series. It was a lot of fun. So, for those who care to listen to the golden vocal cords of yours truly, give it a go. (aw, come on, I know you’ve…
Coaching Can Help Achieve What Law Schools Failed to Teach
By Tom Kane on
Posted in Marketing Tips
I’ve had a series of posts (here, here and here) on the issue of how law schools have failed to prepare their graduates for the real world of practicing law. How sad. But I don’t see very many institutions of “higher” learning changing how they prepare lawyers for the practice of law any time soon. So what is the solution? Coaching!
Ed Poll of Lawbiz Blog has an article in this month’s Law Practice Today entitled “Coaches Teach What Law Schools Don’t” which is right on point. I wanted to share a couple of Ed’s comments:
“Law school does not teach lawyers how to effectively interact with clients; law school does not teach lawyers how to efficiently manage their practices; law school does not teach lawyers how to become good rainmakers or make money. CLE programs generally do not offer or approve programs in these skills. Lawyers learn them, if at all, from the ‘School of Hard Knocks.’”
Coaches can help overcome those shortcomings, and law schools, as I have said before, should be embarrassed for not having done so. Ed concludes by recognizing that coaches don’t have all the answers:
“…Rather, it is that they provide an on-going sounding board for your problems, questions, and ideas. Coaching provides instant support and feedback through regular meetings that often can be conducted by phone. I believe you must look at coaching through the eyes of "investment" … investment in yourself. You should engage a coach from the point you decide you want to be successful.”
Well said. If you want to read about other things you should look for in a coach, take a look at some advice from one of my earlier posts by ….
Continue Reading Coaching Can Help Achieve What Law Schools Failed to Teach
Attorney Coach
By Tom Kane on
Posted in Prospecting for Clients
All lawyers know that law schools did not prepare them for the practical side of practicing law. That is especially true when it comes to developing business in order to sustain a law practice. This has been a pet peeve of mine for years, and I have commented on that in several posts on my …