How to Get Ahead in Our Business by Really Trying

In 1961, the Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying would run for over 1,400 performances and win the Tony.? Several years later the show was made into a hit movie of the same name.? The story? follows J. Pierpont Finch, a window washer who desperately wants to succeed in the business world.? He buys a book with the title name of the play and uses its advice to manipulate, blackmail and flatter his way to the top.? There is much about this show that despite its success at the box office has struggled to survive the test of time.? The gender dynamics are definitely not contemporary, for example.? But the play has been remade several times, perhaps because its parody of the workplace rings true in the experience of its audiences.? So, if we want to get ahead as prosecutors does that mean are we stuck following Finch’s system of “kiss up and kick down?”? Fortunately, in prosecution, I think there are more sure-fire ways to climb the ladder and achieve professional success.

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I was reading a post on Facebook this week by an individual named Sire Apm Luwesa an African social commentator.? His advice, which was no doubt intended for a more general business community is spot on when it comes to the world of prosecution.? Here are his five suggestions and how they apply to our line of work:

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1.???? Develop expertise in tasks that matter:? Luwesa began his post by noting that while people say that no one is indispensable, the truth is that organizations often go to great lengths to retain employees who are seen as critical to their organization.? One way to do that is to develop a skill set that your office really needs and to excel at it.? You might ask yourself as a prosecutor how you go about doing that.? Luwesa points out that the most readily apparent opportunity is when somebody else who had a unique contribution leaves the office.? You know that there is a void that needs to be filled.? And if you step into that void in a meaningful way, it will be a tremendous benefit to the office.? ?When I was a young prosecutor, trying to “rise in the ranks,” I hit the point where I was ready to move from a daily misdemeanor docket to a felony docket.? It just happened that at the time I was ready for this transition, our long-time asset forfeiture and white-collar expert was leaving our office.? And the reality is that no one wanted the docket.? Now while my lack of relative seniority probably would have meant that I would have gotten it anyway, I went to the Powers that Be and asked for the assignment.? It wasn’t that I had any preexisting interest in white collar crime, but I understood that I could make an impact here because of the deep void that had been left.? Moreover, I ultimately discovered I loved prosecuting white collar crime.? A few years later, our sexual assault prosecutor left, which is another docket that often struggles to attract volunteers in our office.? I saw that as the perfect opportunity to try more serious cases and develop a new skill set of working with victims who have been heavily traumatized.? Little did I know that it was the work on that docket that would set me on the path of teaching, which has become my second passion to prosecution.? If you want to make a mark in your office, find where the greatest need is and, rather than being put there reluctantly, embrace it wholeheartedly.? You may be surprised that you find yourself loving it and in the big picture it will help you create the skills you need to try the kind of cases that are your passion.

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2.???? Build relationships at all levels:? One interesting component of the musical I began this blog with was its ending focus on the workplace as a family.? Perhaps you feel that type of emotional connection to your colleagues.? Others will not.? But we spend an incredible amount of our lives at the office.? And if our connections are only directed vertically – to our supervisors or those we supervise, we miss an opportunity for our workplace to fulfill its true potential in our life.? In the movie, it is one of Finch’s non-vertical relationships that saves him from sabotage by a competitor.? If it hasn’t already happened to you, there will come a point in time where your bacon may be saved by a courtroom clerk or Sheriff’s deputy.? Developing relationships with everyone is critical to success.

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3.???? Conquer yourself:? As much as our profession is all about accountability, sometimes we struggle to apply it in an inward direction.? And that’s a natural reaction.? Blaming others for our career not being where we want it to be, can act as a protective mechanism.? Don’t get me wrong, there may be a lot of truth behind why someone feels that way.? But blaming others is an obstacle to growth because it allows us to spend our time focusing on the feeling of how we’ve been wronged, rather than investing our time in improving ourselves and our situation.? This message reminds us that if there is something we don’t like about our life, the ultimate responsibility for fixing it lies with us and if we wait for someone else to do it, we will be waiting an eternity.

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4.???? Do work that matters:? Here we have a leg up because this is part and parcel with what we do as prosecutors.? But for Luwesa, when we apply this principle to the workplace, we are looking at whether what we are doing is advancing the organization’s mission.? For prosecutors this may prompt the question of whether we know the office’s priorities.? If you don’t, ask.? Sometimes it can be that easy.? Not only does an organization function better when everyone is rowing in the same direction, but both your advancement and connection within your office is going to be strengthened if you know your role within the overall purpose.

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5.???? Start now:? There is no time like the present to start working towards change.? Luwesa wrote, “Break down a tedious task and start small.? Don’t wait to be in the mood to do a certain task…Motivation follows action.? Get started and you will find your motivation.”? How many of us have been prepping for a trial and we just can’t get that spark to push us into doing what we know must be done?? Sometimes when you can’t find the spark you have to make it.? If you’re like me and you’ve been in that situation with trial prep, you probably found that after you forced yourself to start doing something like writing direct examinations for your witnesses, you discovered the excitement that eluded you earlier.? The same is true with taking action to move our careers or lives in the direction we want.? This incredibly important task can seem overwhelming, so it is easier to keep dreaming and put off action to another day.? But what if you took one small step today to get your career in the direction you want it to head?? Maybe that step would help generate the enthusiasm to take the next one until you are well on your path.

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Have a good day my friends.? May this week bring you what you need and hope for.? Thanks for doing what you do.

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David A. Lord

Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney

City of Alexandria

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