• Skip to navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

AAEPA, Inc

Find a Member Member's Login
Call Today (800) 846-1555
  • Membership
    • Membership Membership
    • submenu
      • Why Join?
      • Member Requirements
      • Become A Member
      • Meet the Team
  • Estate planning software
  • Education
  • Practice management
    • Practice management Practice Management
    • submenu
      • 11 Essential Systems
      • Coaching
      • Law Firm Marketing
  • Resources
    • Resources Resources
    • submenu
      • Live Training
      • Blog
  • Contact Us

Want to be a Great Leader? Start Here

Home » time and planning » Want to be a Great Leader? Start Here

There’s no shortage of blogs, articles, infographics, and “gurus” in the world today all graciously sharing their secrets to success for those of you out there who either desire to be a great leader one day, or perhaps are already in a leadership role and interested in improving your abilities.

This is one such blog. But hear me out! Stick with me over the next 600 words or so as I give you one – yes, just one – top tip to put your best foot forward on your path toward great leadership skills.

At the Academy, we work with many different types of leaders. A number of them are owners of a law firm and have found themselves – like it or not – in a leadership role. Several are the right-hand men and women of owners, who were born with leadership capabilities and strive to be even better leaders for their teams. Others are leaders of specific projects or departments in their firms. And some find themselves leading in their own quiet ways, setting examples for others on the team and providing support, training, accountability, and playing a role in creating a healthy law firm culture that allows everyone to thrive.

The point is, everyone in a law firm (or any organization, for that matter) can be a leader from any seat in the house. The secret? A shift in perspective and semantics.

First, a bit of background. Surely you’ve heard of the royal “we” which is widely attributed first to King Henry II who used it to imply he was speaking for both himself and God. Over time, however, leaders began to use the term to imply them and their teams. While this brief history lesson may seem insignificant, research has shown that using “we” could also mean you are more considerate of others and possibly a better leader.

In 2013 a team of researchers* conducted five separate studies where they examined the use of pronouns by individuals in a variety of contexts. Their findings consistently showed two trends:

  • Pronouns indicate a speaker’s focus of attention.

Essentially, when people feel insecure, self-aware, diminished, or like they have to prove themselves, they are more likely to focus their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors inward. This is displayed in the use of first-person singular pronouns: “I,” “me,” or “my.” In contrast, individuals using first-person plural and second-person pronouns such as “we,” “us,” or “you,” consistently demonstrate an outward focus, considering the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of others.

  • Positions of leadership are held by outward-focused individuals.

In their studies, researchers found overwhelmingly that those individuals either in a leadership role or who desired to advance into a leadership role tended to focus on the group, its Members, and the success thereof, rather than on their own. While the pronoun may be a small word, researchers found it to be a potent distinction. While those in a successful leadership role tend to be outward-focused and strive for success of the group as a whole, those not in a leadership role tend to tout their own efforts apart from the wellbeing of the group.

Furthermore, these studies showed that leadership in a group is often legitimated by the group, not the individual with the leadership “title.” Because of this, individuals who demonstrate a strong focus on the group rather than themselves often attain – and hold – leadership roles. On the contrary, individuals who might attempt to “force” their leadership role onto others by proving their worth (again, using words such as “I,” “me,” or “my,”) from a self-focused position are more likely to be looked down on by the group, regardless of their role.

So here’s your pro tip for the day: Whether you are already in a leadership role, or desire to assume a leadership role, start with a shift from an inward to an outward-focused position, especially when it comes to the success of your team. Making a conscious effort to transition from using the singular “I” to the plural “we” may not make you a king (or queen) any time soon, but it might just cause a shift in perspective from self-focused to others-focused, make you more aware of the needs of others and, as you work to meet those needs, might just make you a better leader.

*If you’re interested in reading through the actual research study conducted and published in the Journal of Language and Social Psychology, you can check that out here: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0261927X13502654 (but beware: you’ll have to pay to get access to the full report).

Kathryn Adams
Practice Building Consultant
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (858) 453-2128
www.aaepa.com

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Kathryn Adams
Practice Building Consultant, American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys
Latest posts by Kathryn Adams (see all)
  • Lessons in Leadership: Connecting Vs. Controlling - October 19, 2018
  • 3 Reasons Law Firms Fail - October 12, 2018
  • Want to be a Great Leader? Start Here - September 14, 2018
SHARE

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our blog

Recent Posts

  • How Do I Title Thee…Part I
  • Turning Stalled Out Goals into Actions
  • What Makes a Will or Trust Invalid
  • Ultimate Social Media Cheat Sheet: Character Limits & Best Days/Times to Post
  • Understanding Tax Apportionment Clauses

Categories

  • Academy Girl Friday (33)
  • Client Services (238)
  • Coaching (33)
  • Consumer Advantage (3)
  • Counseling (21)
  • Elder Law (5)
  • Estate Planning (919)
  • Estate Planning Documents (5)
  • Estate Planning Education (199)
  • Financial Analysis (3)
  • Financial Services (1)
  • General (19)
  • Law Firm Marketing (281)
  • Law Firm Net Revenue (7)
  • Law Firm Staffing (99)
  • Law Firm Technology (45)
  • Law Firm Web Tips (185)
  • Leadership (191)
  • Legal Education (645)
  • Marketing Tools (2)
  • Medicaid (1)
  • Member Services (1)
  • Owners Compensation (1)
  • Peak Performer Focus (1)
  • Practice Building Calls (1)
  • Practice Management (495)
  • SEO/Social Media Support (3)
  • Software (6)
  • Strategic Planning (9)
  • Uncategorized (15)

Footer

logo of American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

About Us

  • Meet the Team
  • Site Map
  • Legal Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Explore Our Services

  • Coaching
  • Estate planning software
  • Events
  • Legal education
  • Marketing
  • Web and SEO

Keep in Touch

Mon-Fri

9444 Balboa Ave. Suite 300

San Diego

(800) 846-1555

info@aaepa.com

Take Back Control of Your Business and Your Life

+

footer section | American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2022 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc All rights reserved.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Don't sell my personal information.
Cookie Settings Accept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
Save & Accept