The Oklahoma Bar Journal October 2024

about the communications they received may help lawyers enhance their listening skills. The survey responses can also reflect on their own listening habits and identify areas for improvement. Listening skills are vital for lawyers, as poor listening habits can affect our professional perfor mance and reputation. Lawyers can improve their listening skills by pre paring before the conversation, using active listening techniques, listening for the underlying message, confirm ing the client’s goals in their matter, giving feedback, following up and seeking feedback and improvement. By improving their listening skills, lawyers can communicate more effectively, build better relation ships and achieve better results. Let’s close with one often quoted observation on listening skills and one you may not have seen before: CONCLUSION

“I only wish I could find an institute that teaches people how to listen. Businesspeople need to listen at least as much as they need to talk. Too many people fail to realize that real communication goes in both directions.” – Lee Iacocca “Of all the skills of leadership, listening is the most valuable – and one of the least understood. Most captains of industry listen only sometimes, and they remain ordinary leaders. But a few, the great ones, never stop listening. That’s how they get word before anyone else of unseen problems and opportunities.” – Peter Nulty, Fortune magazine Mr. Calloway is the OBA Management Assistance Program director. Need a quick answer to a tech problem or help solving a management dilemma? Contact him at 405-416-7008, 800-522-8060 or jimc@okbar.org. It’s a free member benefit.

situations that are serious enough to generate stress. As lawyers, we want to do everything possible to make certain our new clients under stand and appreciate our advice and plans to handle their matters. At the conclusion of prospective client interviews, whether you are retained or not, it is a good prac tice to have a handout or brochure discussing the basics of their type of matter to give them. Make certain your contact information is included on every handout. While one goal is to inform and impress potential clients so they retain you, it hurts nothing to have your words of wisdom circulating. Maybe one of their relatives hires you for a different matter after seeing your law firm’s handout.

SEEK FEEDBACK FOR IMPROVEMENT

Lawyers may seek feedback on their listening skills. Surveying clients at the close of representation

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL