Leadership for Lawyers

Generation Gap in the Jury Box

This month's issue of Law Practice Management features a wonderful article by Dr. Karen Lisko of Persuasion Strategies, outlining the differences between Gen X and Gen Y in regards to how they behave on juries:

"Generation X Jurors tend to:

• Want more data and the source behind it but presented in a concise, technological (screen-view) way
• Focus on the pragmatic and how a case relates to their own lives
• Be fairly entrepreneurial and impressed with parties who take ethical risks in business
• Hearken back to many traditional values that we typically correlate with older jurors, in particular with a focus on “personal responsibility” and “self-reliance”
• Want the “bottom line” on conclusions the experts draw

  Generation Y jurors tend to:

• Want even more presented technologically than do the technologically savvy Generation X jurors
• Be the best-educated generation of all time, with an ability to think more analytically about case facts as a result
• Be more interested in teamwork and “getting along” in the deliberation room
• Be more interested in 9-to-5 jobs with a reliable employer, giving them respect for parties who follow through on their commitments
• Feel less suspicious than other generations do toward the government, indicating an opportunity to impress them with a party's ability or inability to meet governmental or industry standards."

Leadership on the Colorado

Space is still available for Leadership on the Colorado.  In fact, we don't have a our minimum registration yet, so if you are looking for a great practice group or firm leadership retreat, drop me a note.

Dates:          August 25-27, 2996
Location:     Grand Junction, Colorado
Group Size:  Space is limited to 22 people. 
Cost:            $1,300, includes raft trip, guides, food, tents, and leadership workshop.  $495 deposit.

Download FAQ:   Download leadership_on_the_colorado.pdf

Reserve:      Mark Beese, mark@beese.org

I will be facilitating along with leadership coach Andy Cline.  Andy is a leadership consultant who works with executive teams and non-profit organizations.  He is an instructor for NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) and currently is responsible for teaching team-building and leadership skills to NASA astronauts on space shuttle and international space station missions. 

The purpose of the trip is to give attorneys - both in-house and outside counsel- four leadership tools that will help them manage change, take risks, build teams, and lead peers.  Our setting is the magnificent Westwater Canyon of the Colorado River.  The outfitter is Sheri Griffith Expeditions, who has been safely leading trips down the Colorado for 35 years.  Westwater Canyon is a wonderful mix of beautiful canyon scenery and challenging whitewater.  The 3-day, 2- night trip provides an environment and opportunity for conversations about risk, challenge, learning new skills, and having fun.  No prior rafting experience is necessary.

Three Signs

I just returned from 10 days 'back east' visiting family (thus the absense of blog posts).   It rained almost every day, but we escaped the deluge towns just a 100 miles east experienced.  We had a chance to spend two days in 'Amish Country' south of Canton Ohio on the way home.  I bought three small wooden signs at one of the many tourist shops.  The two I've placed in our team 'living room' where we often meet with internal clients say:

"Because Nice Matters"

and

"Simplify"

Sometimes we all need a reminder that 'nice matters', including our clients who are often only aware of their personal fire drill du jour.   

The best marketing, I've found, is simple, straightforward, honest and direct.   Simplify is a start.

The third sign, now in my office, says,

"Stress Less.  Pray More"