In-House Counsel

Attorney 'Act' Law

What would happen if you learned skills that were far removed from your immediate field and figured out ways to integrate them into your work life?

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I have always been a big advocate of diverse skill sets. With 7.9 billion people on the planet, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to offer a unique value proposition. A few hundred years ago, being a carpenter could be a niche. Now, though, you would have to be a carpenter who specializes in ornate hardwood pieces that reflect the styles of the mid-1800s.

This challenge to stand out means that we need to draw on a more diverse range of interests. Professionals are already combining their hobbies with their degrees to create unique combinations of skills and abilities.

What would happen if you learned skills that were far removed from your immediate field and figured out ways to integrate them into your work life?

The results would be incredible. A multifaceted “law fusion” of this kind is discussed in another article.

One such example would be improv — yes, like the comedy technique.

Improv, short for improvisation, is an ingenious addition to your arsenal. It is something of a guerrilla tactic, unexpected but devastating in its effectiveness, though battle terminology is not actually the best metaphor to describe it.

Improv is all about cohesion, working together, and rolling with the punches. The client or jury is not territory to be won in combat but rather an ally that must be understood and empathized with.

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Improv equips you with the awareness to read the jury’s responses and the dexterity to adjust your approaches as needed. It teaches you how to relate to people — client, jury, judge, other stakeholders, and even the opposing counsel.

From there, you have a better idea of how to communicate with them in a more authentic way, consequently building rapport. Sincere acknowledgment is the cornerstone of respect, and lawyers who talk with people instead of talking at them will have a much better standing with all parties involved.

Furthermore, practicing improv allows you to sharpen your wits and hone techniques in situations where the stakes are much lower. You can develop ways of probing your “audience” to gauge its reception and then create the appropriate techniques that either drive the point home or pivot it in an entirely different direction.

With improv exercises, all of this takes place in an environment where it is okay to fail, not only allowing you to take more risks (leading to higher levels of innovation) but also potentially teaching you a number of lessons about humility and independent confidence — i.e., that you are supported regardless of what happens around you.

Lastly is the ability to listen. Listening is a complex skill, requiring awareness of someone else’s words, tone, facial expressions, and body language, as well as the consciousness of potential external factors which may play a role in the interaction.

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We spend a lot of time preparing our cases and negotiations. We seek evidence, loopholes, and logical progressions. We consume so much information and organize it into hierarchies and sequences that serve our purposes.

The courtroom or a negotiation room is a dynamic space, however, where things change all the time. So, you cannot simply wait your turn to regurgitate your knowledge and conclusions. You must be engaged with what everyone else is saying and where the direction of the case is going.

This requires listening — also a quintessential skill in the world of improv and something that must be practiced and improved. Improvisation is invaluable to a lawyer, though it is best utilized by an improv ensemble. Who better to learn it from?

Olga MackOlga V. Mack is the CEO of Parley Pro, a next-generation contract management company that has pioneered online negotiation technology. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to participate on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat and Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security. You can follow Olga on Twitter @olgavmack.

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