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The California Litigator

By Barbara Haubrich-Hass, ACP/CAS

Today I was reflecting on how the lessons that I learned from my mother are still influencing me today.  My mother was a dynamic woman that taught by example and by the use of sayings, such as:  "You get more flies with honey, not with vinegar; so put a smile on your face."  Upon further reflection, I realized that one of the most useful lessons of leadership that she taught me was how people will pick up on your attitude, and act accordingly.

Bernie_2My mother taught me how people respond to others around them, positively and negatively.  Think about it for a moment.  When you smile, you receive a smile.  When you are curt, you receive a curt response.  When someone around you is clearly angry, don't you act differently?

It struck me that this is exactly how any leadership position works.  My staff tends to reflect the attitude that I put out.  Everyone knows that when I close my door, really serious business is going down!  But all joking aside, it is true that when the stress of the job starts getting to you, others around you react.  An attitute is really like a second set of clothing that we wear without even realizing that we have put it on.  Our attitude ebbs and flows with the contours of our daily stressors and experiences.     

The bad attitude of a leader will inevitably corrupt the people working around them.  While your attitude might be a reflection of what you are feeling, you must always put the most positive face on in order to maximize the leadership of your legal team.  Ultimately, it is how you choose to express your attitude that will determine whether you are a success or a failure.

So tomorrow, what is your choice of attitude?  Follow my mother's advice and "put a smile on your face." 

 

 
 

Comments  

 
0 #1 Megan Andrews 2011-01-18 13:57
You don't have to do things to please others. Do what makes you happy.
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DISCLAIMER: Barbara Haubrich-Hass, ACP/CAS, is not an attorney. Any information derived from The California Litigator, and any other statements contained herein, are for information purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice or a recommendation on a legal matter. The information from The California Litigator is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current. Barbara makes no warranty, express or implied, about the accuracy or reliability of the information provided within this website, or to any other website to which this website or articles may be linked.