Powerful Women Pair Up

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 importance of having a support system.

If you haven't already, please SUBSCRIBE to Focus Forward Formula Newsletter so that you don't miss a single issue.

When friends or mentors push us, we move forward more confidently, effectively, and faster. No matter what their level, powerful women have people in their lives that make them better. I mean, where would Thelma be without Louise? Okay, this may be a bad example, but they pushed each other to live a more authentic life in their own way.

Yet, I often talk to middle-level attorneys who believe they don’t need mentors or peers to help them reach the next level. They think they have developed so much that they do not need one.?

I remember when "Joe," a mid-level attorney, told me about a company mentoring program and mentioned that they had volunteered to be a mentor. I followed up by asking if they had also considered getting a mentor for themselves. The silence was deafening. Joe said he was insulted that I thought he needed a mentor. And then, we discussed the benefits and how many SVPs and EVPs I knew who had mentors, coaches, and other peer support (aka a personal board of directors), and we discussed the benefits of each.?

At the end of the discussion, Joe changed his mind. Later he told me that it was one of the best decisions of his career. Not only was Joe paired with someone who gave him thoughtful and practical advice about the organization, but he also developed a relationship with someone who could open some doors for him.

Let’s be frank. We work and live in a complex ecosystem, and what makes it even more challenging to navigate is that each organization has its own culture and personality, as do the individuals within it. No one person has a monopoly on all good ideas. You need multiple people you can tap for advice and intelligence (both inside and outside your organization).

You should write down who is your support system and how they help you accomplish your goals. Look for gaps that you need to fill.

Do you have mentors inside the organization but not outside? Is all of your support in one industry? Do you need someone who can unleash the secrets of advancement in the legal field??

Then think about who can help you fill them or how you can broaden your network to add someone with that expertise. You may need to deepen some relationships, ask for introductions, or attend events.

As you think about and develop your support system, make sure that the people whom you are leveraging exhibit the following traits:

• Radical honesty and candor
• Strategic
• Willing to cheerlead you
• Discretion
• Willing and able to give constructive feedback
• Exceptional listener
• Has a broad network and is willing to leverage it for you
• Willing to take on risk
• Knowledgeable
• Cares about you and your career

It takes a village to forge a successful law career, and if you are trying it alone, you are wasting time, energy, and effort. Take some time and think about your goals and who could help you achieve them faster and more efficiently—and then take the next step and reach out. If you want, contact me, I am offering 5 complimentary consultations this month. DM if you want one. Maybe I am your perfect match. You never know.

Want more insights?

• Check out this article where I share the 10 Tips For In-House Counsel Struggling to Advance. In this guide, I share my time-tested tips for in-house counsel to release fear, jump-start your career, and propel you towards promotion.

• Check out this article where I share the 9 Tips for Lawyers Struggling to Build a Book of Business In this guide, I share my time-tested tips to release fear, transform your relationship with business development, and launch your rainmaker journey.

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.