LinkedIn allows you to quickly create targeted lists and send InMail to that group with ease and efficiency. Without LinkedIn, time would need to be spent researching specific groups and then determining who you would reach out to and what means you would employ to connect with them. For example, a lawyer might want to target a group of legal costs accountants to see who can provide the best quote for case files. When you send an InMail to a pre-selected group, you will likely get a more targeted response and know who is available and willing to connect, network with you and provide a timely response to your query. Lawyers can connect with a large number of professionals and then gain referrals through those connections. Those lawyers who would like to leverage LinkedIn can see multiple benefits if they go about it in the right way.

The following are some tips on how lawyers can get the most out of LinkedIn:

1. Utilise a premium account: LinkedIn Premium provides greater access to features that aid in direct contact like the InMail feature.
2. Ask your referral sources for endorsements and positive reviews in the “recommendations” section of your profile.
3. Utilise video: Video is so important today if used properly. If you have testimonial videos these would be a great addition to your profile and if you don’t, make it a priority to get some video content produced. This will also help establish credibility and trust.
4. Choose connections that appear to be putting some effort into the network. If they don’t put any time and effort into their profile, it’s unlikely they will check their messages anyway. Be smart with your time.
5. Create a community of like-minded professionals: Your LinkedIn is part of your lead generation funnel. If you are a real estate lawyer for example, you can connect with real estate agents who may refer their clients to you if they are in need of legal advice.
6. Create a network of media professionals: More media professionals are on LinkedIn than any other social media site. In fact, 92% of media professionals are on LinkedIn.
7. Demonstrate that you are an expert by getting relevant information in front of targeted prospects. This is the best way to attract new clients and additional sources for referrals.

Here are a few tips of things not to do when using LinkedIn:

1. Don’t connect with anyone and everyone. This will only clog up your feed and cause you to miss potentially important posts.
2. Be mindful of connecting with competitors. This doesn’t mean don’t connect with any other attorney or colleagues; it does mean to be selective about who you connect with because by connecting with someone, you are also sharing your connection list with that person.
3. Don’t share irrelevant content. Be sure to select content that will be desired by your network audience. If you post too many things that are of no interest to your audience, they will eventually breeze right over anything you post thinking that it is not important to them anyway.

LinkedIn can help lawyers position their “brand” and increase visibility. LinkedIn is now being considered the “business-to-business directory” as well as the most popular social network for professionals. Interacting with people is the key. Utilise updates by posting your blog or news about new areas of expertise in your practice. Seek out and join the right groups to leverage your professional network and then participate.

LinkedIn is powerful, but you will only get out of it what you put in. You can’t simply set up a profile, add your basic information and expect the referrals to come rolling in. Used properly, it is one of the most effective referral tools available to lawyers today.

The post How Lawyers Can Get the Most Out of LinkedIn appeared first on Lowes Legal Costs Accountants.

Sometimes it takes more than a high IQ to negotiate a positive outcome. In the legal profession, lawyers are faced with intense and often difficult opponents who are not always rational. These are times when having someone with high emotional intelligence (EQ) at the table, proves most valuable. Here are five of the top reasons why those with high EQ make excellent negotiators.

They Use Intuition Rationally

People who exhibit high emotional intelligence are emphaths, meaning they feel empathy for others. This is actually the hallmark of high EQ. Being able to relate to others, makes these individuals natural negotiators. Their ability to intuit a subject’s primary barrier to action and utilise that information rationally is an invaluable skill in the forum of negotiation. Simply exhibiting empathy with statements like, “I get the impression that you are having doubts about –” or “Perhaps you are concerned about –”, not only opens the door to solving a pain-point but also has a very disarming effect, which is key when negotiating with difficult subjects.

They Know How to Say “NO”

Emotionally intelligent people understand how to exert self-control. They tend to delay gratification and avoid impulsive action to achieve a better end result. In negotiation, “No” is often the gateway to a more refined discussion. It defines the boundaries and without it, often the negotiation could drag on needlessly. Choosing to say “no” instead of more ambiguous responses such as “I don’t know if that is possible” is an act of authority and establishes the limits necessary for fruitful negotiation.

They are not Perfectionists

Individuals with high emotional intelligence are not perfectionists yet they remain extremely motivated. They know that perfection is impossible, so they do not waste time on that pursuit instead, they roll with the punches and tend to more rapidly move forward. This is an important factor when they are confronted with a hard “no,” themselves. Instead of giving up and feeling a sense of failure, these individuals are more apt to rebound quickly and counter in a way that extends the conversation.

“Know what you want in the negotiation session, and what you can live without. ” – Richard Bayer, Ph.D., CEO of a career-coaching service.

This trait is especially valuable in negotiations since a “win” isn’t simply getting what you want but instead, is achieving the best possible outcome for all concerned.

They Know How to Disconnect

Being able to achieve a balance between their personal and professional lives is a behaviour consistent with having a high EQ. This is helpful in the realm of intense legal negotiations because it helps maintain levels of manageable levels of stress. Those who make themselves available to their profession 24/7 are more prone to burnout and anxiety. Studies continue to show that this factors into job satisfaction and improved productivity. Furthermore, the act of having achieved work life balance is perhaps the most impressive display of their negotiation skills.

They Possess Greater Self-Awareness

People with high emotional intelligence tend to be more self-aware. They understand what they are good at they know what they still need to learn. Weaknesses do not hold them back. They can identify their own emotions and do not allow anger or frustration for fueling drama and chaos. Since they are firm in their identity, they are more adept at handling conflict by remaining unaffected when personal slights are issued in the midst of a confrontation. Because this goes hand-in-hand with the trait of self-reflection, these individuals often employ a conscious effort to improve their knowledge, skills, and collaborative attitudes and utilise them in all aspects of their lives.

Learning to be Emotionally Intelligent

Emotional intelligence has a marked impact on the ability to build strong relationships, manage occupational stressors, and minimise professional risks. It is no surprise that many of the traits of a successful negotiator are also indicators of high emotional intelligence. Just as negotiation skills can be perfected, so too can emotional intelligence be enhanced. The following are four steps you could employ to boost your emotional intelligence:

1. Increase self-awareness by identifying the emotions you are feeling at any given time. Attempt to determine the cause of the emotion, as well as noting the response you exhibit. Practise this during times of stress or conflict.
2. Practise control of your emotions by determining if and when it is beneficial to express your emotions and when it is best to refrain. This is one way to limit negative thoughts and emotions.
3. Learn to perceive the emotions of others by reading body language and non-verbal cues. This can help you gain valuable insight and give you an advantage when resolving a conflict.
4. Learn to influence the emotions of others by modelling the desired behaviour. When you understand how to do this you will be able direct others in a way that is beneficial. It also will aid in facilitating trust and strengthen client trust and build stronger relationships.

The post 5 Reasons Why Those With High Emotional Intelligence

Make Excellent Negotiators appeared first on Lowes Legal Costs Accountants.

TED is a nonprofit platform devoted to promoting “Ideas Worth Spreading” and provides a clearinghouse of videos that offers “free knowledge and inspiration from the world’s most inspired thinkers.”

Originally starting out as a conference that brought together industry experts across technology, entertainment, and design, we have put together a few thoughtful law-related presentations that made their way into the library of TED Talks. The format is simple. Compelling speakers with compelling messages are invited to speak for up to 20 minutes to an engaged audience. We have collated a list of our top choice law related TED videos as follows:

1. Alan Siegel: Let’s simplify legal jargon!

Credit agreements, tax forms, healthcare legislation: They’re all filled with gobbledygook, says Alan Siegel in his talk, and unnecessarily long. He calls for a simple, sensible redesign — and user-friendly English — to make legal paperwork intelligible to the rest of us.

Watch Here >

2) Amy Cuddy: Changing How You Are Perceived by Changing Your Body Language

Whether you are trying a case in front of a jury or negotiating a deal, how you are perceived will change how people respond to your message. Strangely, knowing and purposefully changing your body language, you can change how you are perceived, and you can measurably change your own body chemistry.

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3) Andrew Stanton: How Lawyers Can Tell a Great Story

The writer of Toy Story and other similar films reminds us of something critical to any trial presentation, “Make me care!” Learning to tell a better story may be one of the most important skills a litigator can learn. Making an emotional connection with your audience is how you get them on your side – not by overloading them with the details and facts.

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4) Peter Donnelly: How Statistics Fool Juries

Oxford mathematician Peter Donnelly discussed the common mistakes humans make in interpreting statistics — and the deadly impact these critical errors can have on the outcome of criminal trials.

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5. Scott Fraser: Why eyewitnesses get it wrong

Scott Fraser studies how humans remember crimes — and bear witness to them. In this powerful talk which focuses on a shooting incident, he suggests that even eyewitnesses close to a crime can create “memories” they could not have seen.

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6. Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action

Not legal profession specific, but applies widely, including to lawyers and legal professionals. It’s also one of the best Ted Talks we’ve seen. Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle and the question “Why?”

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7. Nancy Duarte: How to Structure a Great Talk

Nancy Duarte does a superb job of explaining how to structure a good story and offers a simple format that can be applied easily to any brief, opening or closing statement for legal professionals.

Watch Here >

The post Top TED Talks for Legal Professionals appeared first on Lowes Legal Costs Accountants.