The most frequent question I am asked is how do I get more collaborative cases? Are some Collaborative Law professionals attracting more collaborative cases than others? What are the qualities of a successful collaborative professional?
I recently read an article by Jeff Haden on the Qualities of Productive People, while reading the article, I noticed there were strong similarities between the qualities of productive people and the qualities of successful Collaborative Law professionals.
These qualities include:
Confidence in vision– Successful Collaborative professionals know where they are going, what they want and why it is important to them. Clarity of vision and purpose is at the core of their authenticity. It is the fuel that provides them with the creative energy required to build a practice that is fulfilling and in alignment with their most important values.
Comfort outside their “comfort zone”- Professionals who have a successful collaborative practice are aware of their internal constraints and move beyond familiar ways of thinking and acting. They are constantly learning new skills, maintaining visibility with referral sources, updating their web site and blogs and have cultivated a different mind-set about working in an interdisciplinary team.
Discipline to move forward on “off” days– Professionals with a consistent case load of collaborative clients know that results come from the small day to day activities that result in big change. They attend the training’s, write the articles, give the talks and meet with referral sources even when they don’t think they have the time or energy.
Creativity and inspiration to do great work– Collaborative professionals who have achieved a reputation for excellence don’t wait for the perfect case or client. They learn by doing. As Jeff Haden stated in his article, they understand that , “creativity is the result of effort: toiling, striving, refining, testing, experimenting… The work itself results in inspiration.”
Getting Started- Every successful collaborative professional understands the wisdom in the quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” They don’t wait until the “time is right” to execute their plan, they begin it now.
Finishing-Successful professionals not only clarify their vision, they create their plan and execute the strategies and activities that will move their practice in the direction of their most important goals.