As an emotionally intelligent lawyer, you have the power to grow sustainably
To succeed as a lawyer in today’s environment requires more than a degree and hard work. In fact, some of your softer skills can take you further than you might think. As an emotionally intelligent lawyer, you have the ability to embrace and manage change, inspire your people and much more.
What is emotional intelligence?
No, you don’t have to wear your heart on your sleeve. Emotional intelligence (also known as emotional quotient or EQ) in the workplace is more about maintaining a strong sense of composure and confidence as you manage change and make decisions. It also means you have the ability to communicate clearly with your colleagues and clients and that you maintain a clear vision for your firm’s culture and growth.
Ronda Muir, author of “Beyond Smart: Lawyering with Emotional Intelligence” defines the components of EQ as: “emotional perception, emotional empathy, emotional understanding and emotional regulation.”
Muir notes that lawyers often have high IQs, but low EQ, which makes them vulnerable to misperception and miscommunication. She adds that lawyers tend to score lowest in the area of emotional awareness, which can inhibit an individual’s ability to change attitudes and behaviors. In short, a low EQ could mean that you remain in a fixed mindset rather than a growth mindset, and it could impact your professional and personal relationships.
The business of law is the business of people
Emotionally intelligent lawyers understands the critical role relationships play in their success. From connecting with a strong network of fellow professionals to building rapport with clients, emotional intelligence skills can help you maintain those important ties with people.
This business coach, who works with lawyers on building stronger law firms, highlights the importance of developing a high EQ as a lawyer:
“The practice of law is not just dealing with the intellectual concepts of law, but includes how the law impacts people, and that stirs up a huge range of emotions. Lawyers…constantly deal, persuade, talk and negotiate with people. Most of the time these people are under some kind of stress, be it emotional, financial or personal.”
Like it or not, in almost every interaction with another person, emotions are at play. Even in a fierce negotiation with a corporate leader, it’s never just about facts and figures. You and the other parties both have emotions roiling under the surface, and how you perceive and manage that tension can help you navigate through it more successfully.
Developing a stronger EQ
We can all benefit from strengthening our emotional intelligence skills. Here are a few ways to get started:
Practice self-awareness. Pay attention to your own behavior and emotions. Stop in the moment and simply observe, without judgement.
Listen actively. We lawyers like to talk and we’re good at it, but a high EQ means taking the time to listen to others. Active listening means asking questions and reflecting what you heard back to the other person.
Dial back your reactions. High conflict situations can prompt us to respond with anger or knee-jerk responses. People with high EQ respond calmly and work to diffuse high emotions.
Practice empathy. Your point of view isn’t the only one in the room. Make a point of trying to understand others’ perspectives. As a leader, make empathy-informed decisions that strengthen your firm culture and morale.
Operate with a growth mindset. Pay attention to repetitive negative thoughts that limit your thinking. If you have a growth mindset, you see challenges as opportunities rather than black-and-white limits.
Seek community. Isolation can also lead to limited thinking and a fixed mindset. Spending time with other growth-minded people and building authentic relationships can boost your EQ.
As an independent lawyer, isolation can inhibit your ability to grow your EQ. Consider building your community as you build your law practice by working in a shared office setting like LawBank.
To learn more about LawBank’s collaborative communities for lawyers in Denver and Las Vegas, click here. We also work with larger law firms who want to maximize existing office space.
