You want to get better at what you do, so you take CLE courses, watch videos, read books, and otherwise consume information that can help you improve your skills.
But reading and listening aren’t enough. You need to practice.
Let’s say you want to get better at networking. The best way to do that is by practicing your skills “in the field,” but you can also practice on your own.
You can rehearse starting a conversation, introducing one attendee to others, questions to ask to find out more about a new contact, and what you’ll say when they ask what you do.
You can improve your presentation skills by recording and listening to yourself, or by asking a friend to listen and provide feedback.
You can get better at being interviewed by podcasters, bloggers, and reporters, by working on questions to give them to ask you, and a bio they can use to introduce you.
Make a list of the skills and habits and processes you want to improve regarding your core work, your marketing, and the management of your practice.
Examples:
- Writing more persuasive demand letters
- Writing blog posts and articles in less time
- Asking for help from your list, contacts
- Getting booked for podcast interviews
- Improving your Linkedin profile
- Improving your public speaking skills
- Becoming a better listener
- Talking about referrals
- Giving feedback to staff
- Improving the new client interview process
- Interpreting medical reports/records
- Writing thank-you notes
- Explaining fees, costs, and retainers
- Learning a new app
- Delegating more effectively and more often
- Deposing medical experts
- Being more patient with difficult clients
- Taking effective notes
- Streamlining oral arguments
- Creating better daily and weekly task lists
- Overcoming objections and closing prospective clients
- Body language: mirroring and matching, smiling, eye contact
- What to say or do when you follow-up with a new contact
- Creating form letters and templates
- Answering “What do you do?”
Keep a running list of things you want to improve (or start doing) and schedule time to work on them.
Because building a successful practice requires practice.
What to say when someone asks, “What do you do?”
