The PDC Link

Author: Sandra Bang PDC Trusted Advisor Founder & CEO Sable Group   Recently I facilitated a workshop on career advancement for senior law firm executives and leaders. It was a privilege to create and foster a space within which we could review and reflect, share and discuss, and plan and write our professional and personal intentions. How does one manage “career advancement” or continue to move onward after having successfully fulfilled a senior role...

Author: Kiko Korn PDC Trusted Advisor Alumni Owner Legal Writing Works   In 2019 I gave a PDC Webinar called 10 Ways to Win @ Email. I remember being nervous—not about the topic (how to draft clear, professional emails) but about the medium. There would be no audience smiles, no nods when I asked if anyone had ever forgotten to attach an attachment. How would I know if people were engaged? Fast-forward five years to a world where remote, hybrid work and...

Author: Tracy LaLonde Chief Joychiever Joychiever   In the competitive, high-octane world of law firms, the concept of engagement often gets overshadowed by billable hours, client demands, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Yet, beneath this facade of unwavering dedication lies a critical, often overlooked ingredient to a firm's success: the impact of how someone is managed on engagement. While we universally acknowledge the importance of good management, an...

Interview with Darien Fleming for PDC Blog Building trust as a tool of engagement PDC: Darien, you were telling us about your perspective on trust. We know trust is important to build in terms of relationships, but how should we think about building trust?     DF: Yeah, I think it's really hard. It is the thing that is so essential to every relationship, but I think that almost everyone questions, “how do I build it?” “how do I do it?” So, I think you're asking the right...

Author: Dr. Larry Richard PDC Trusted Advisor LawyerBrain LLC Law firm leaders are constantly trying to get their lawyers to do stuff: “Turn in your timesheets!” “Mentor younger lawyers.” “Show up at partners meetings.” “Come back to the office.” Or they’re busy trying to get lawyers to not do stuff: “Stop hoarding work.” “Don’t use social media to discuss sensitive matters.” “Don’t micromanage associates.” Yet many leaders are frustrated at how hard it...

Author: Aisha Greene PDC Board of Directors Director of Attorney Development and Training Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP It is well past time for us to come up with another term for "soft skills". As defined, "soft" means that something is easy or not hard. "Soft skills" are personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively with other people. By contrast, hard skills or technical skills are defined as objective, quantifiable skills gained through training,...

Author: Paula Davis-Laack Stress & Resilience Institute  Lawyer Strong LLC   PDC TA Profile  PDC Call Me For- Video LinkedIn    When you think about stress, what comes to mind first?  Big work and life stressors or the everyday hassles that are part of life?  In their new book, The Microstress Effect, Rob Cross and Karen Dillon suggest that microstress – small moments of stress in your personal and professional life that...

Sandra Bang is the Founder and CEO of Sable Group, a bespoke coaching and people development consultancy, and a certified executive coach. She helps people and organizations gain clarity and achieve their professional and business goals by actively listening with empathy, reframing perspectives within context, and providing strategic guidance. With her candid and pragmatic approach, Sandra facilitates outcomes for clients that are impactful and beneficial, particularly in the areas of...

Author: Brenna Glanville Milbank Manager of Professional Development   If year-end goal setting makes you think of gym discounts, fad diets, and flashy commercials, you are not alone. Despite its seemingly gimmicky cousin, making New Year’s resolutions, creating end-of-year goals is a uniquely beneficial activity worthy of your time. Below are my tips, as a former lawyer and now Manager of Professional Development, for creating meaningful end-of-year goals and for implementing...

Will we see you at the 2022 PDI Conference? The Professional Development Institute (PDI) Conference is a collaboration between the PDC, NALP, and ALI-CLE and registration is now open! Taking place December 1-2 at the Conrad Hotel in Washington, DC (note the new location!), the conference is THE place to be for PD professionals.  Whether you recently joined the PD community, or have been in the industry for years, you will leave the conference with timely, helpful information to...

By Kendra Brodin, CEO, EsquireWell Well-Being Week in Law is coming up May 2-6, 2022! Is your organization ready? According to the Institute for Well-Being in Law, Well-Being Week in Law aims “to raise awareness about mental health and encourage action and innovation across the profession to improve well-being.” During Well-Being Week in Law, law firms, law schools, and legal organizations highlight the importance of well-being through activities, events, resources, and more. ...

By Stacey Schwartz, Professional Development and Legal Recruiting Manager at Katten Surely the vast majority of us have seen at least one episode of Friends. One of the episodes that makes me laugh the hardest includes the iconic scene where Ross buys a new couch and decides to carry it up to his apartment instead of paying a delivery fee. With the help of Rachel and Chandler, Ross tries to navigate the couch up the stairs, shouting “P-I-V-O-T!” frantically, as the three of them struggle to...