Listening

Coaching has become more than a sports term in the past few years. Many business executives, lawyers, and even housewives now have personal coaches. Coaches support their clients in achieving goals. Many of the skills of coaching are also applicable to law practice. Below are some communication tips from the coaching profession that apply to law:

Listening skills:

Clients and prospects want to know that you care about them, their business and their problems. The common negative stereotype about lawyers--that lawyers are arrogant, uncaring, selfish and greedy is perhaps in part a result of our listening habits. Are you a good listener? How do you know?

This presentation was originally made at “The Role of the Peacemaker in Healing Polarization. Summer Peace Camp for Lawyers.” July 28-31, 2005 at Black Mountain, N.C. Renaissance Lawyer Society. In order to work effectively in print format, some editorial liberties were taken. --Editor's Note

Why do we listen? Well, as animals, we listen to locate prey, predators or allies. As language-using animals: “Have you tried the salmon at the new place downtown” “Look out for that guy, he’s turning!” or “Come here and gimme a hug.”