What makes people value your expertise, take your advice and want to consult you about important decisions? Hearing examples of past successes. Most people won’t be there when you have your shining moments. So it’s through conversation – storytelling, to be exact – that people will learn how to use your skills and value your advice.
Steven Smith and Sarah Swank of the Ober|Kaler Health Care General Counsel Institute hosted this 90-minute webinar presented by networking expert Lynne Waymon. We discussed how to construct and tell examples, vignettes and stories that highlight how you contribute to key decisions and help protect the bottom line. We talked about ways to become more comfortable and competent at teaching people what to count on you for, what to ask you for and what kinds of opportunities and information to send your way.
We presented examples of common scenarios that inhouse counsel often encounter, where a well-crafted success story can make an enormous impact. These include:
- Meeting your CEO at the company retreat
- Talking with board members before an annual meeting
- Chatting with the Chief Medical Officer in the cafeteria or in the parking lot
- Interacting with your General Counsel (if you are a staff attorney)
- Relaxing at a social event or fundraiser where others aren’t familiar with what you do.
The program covered how to decide what you want others to remember about your expertise, along with tips on how, when and where to deliver your stories.