Leading the Way - February 2010
Where Will You Be in the Next Year?
Tina L. Boone, PLS
NALS, Nashville Chapter
I am sure you are either contemplating the question or wondering
why I am asking.
In today’s economy, absolutely nothing is guaranteed with respect to employment. Every
month, I hear about layoffs or people in the legal industry changing jobs
“out of the blue” and moving to new firms where they feel they have better
job security.
As a legal professional, it is so important to ensure that
your skills are solid and your attitude is professional. When employers are making
the hard decision to cut staff, unfortunately, the easier decision is to
begin with the people who are not interested in doing more than the normal
duties or are not as solid in their skills. They are looking for legal
professionals who can handle three or four attorneys, without skipping a
beat. Are your skills up-to-date? Do you feel comfortable with
whatever situation arises at work, including difficult technology situations?
If you are not as comfortable as you feel you could be, maybe
taking that extra step to study for one of the NALS certification exams is
exactly what you need. There is an exam that meets you exactly where you are – whether
you are new to the industry (ALS), have experience (PLS), or have transitioned
to paralegal duties (PP). Certification is definitely an enhancement
in your current job situation because it shows that you take your job as
a profession and not just a job.
Whether you realize it or not, you are showing others certain
things about you. Are you conveying a certain level of professionalism, a certain
level of productivity, and a certain level of positiveness? Webster's
Dictionary defines:
(i) professionalism as the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person;
(ii) productivity as the quality or state of being productive or having the quality or power of producing; and
(iii) positiveness as fully assured: CONFIDENT.
Are you fully assured? Assurance comes from knowing the
answers, or at least knowing, where to find them, and then getting the job
done.
Are you producing power? Power comes from knowing what
to do and doing it 100%, and then some. It is accepting nothing less than
a high level of perfection in everything that you do.
Are you a professional person? Professionalism is displayed in your
conduct, your qualities – what are you showing others everyday?
So, as you continue to think about “Where Will You Be in the Next Year?” continue to toss in the equation – Certification, Professionalism, Productivity, and a Positive Attitude.