Like co-blogger Joan Heminway, I felt it a great honor and pleasure to attend the second annual Women’s Leadership in Legal Academia Conference last week (thanks, Joan, for bringing it to my attention via the BLPB!).  It was a fabulous two days – an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues from around the country, meet new ones, learn a ton, and participate in many highly-engaging discussions.  And as a UVA JD/MBA, it was also a wonderful chance to return to C’ville, catch up with a few former professors, and buy a much needed new pair of running shoes (Nike outlet new since my time!).

I loved Joan’s “mini-workshop.”  It really challenged teams of attendees to grapple with difficult scenarios (see yesterday’s post), provided valuable leadership insights, and reminded me of summer reading I want to do!  During the workshop, Joan mentioned the book Emotional Intelligence.  It’s been on my “must read” list for years.  Overall, the scenarios brought to life the emotional savvy (and regulation) essential to great leadership, and left me with two overarching thoughts.  First, in any situation, doing one’s best to understand the persons (including oneself!) and complexities involved is foundational to effective leadership.  It is also hard because it demands a sustained focus on others, and lots of active listening.  Second, and perhaps most important, giving people the benefit of the doubt – assuming the best of others – greatly assists conflict resolution.  Yet this too can often be hard.               

Additional takeaways on leadership from this and other workshops included, Leaders:

Put their people first, develop others, value everyone, and seek to build others up – “the best leaders bring out the best in people.”

Know themselves – their strengths AND weaknesses.

Build relationships.

Lead by example.

Seek and value wisdom.

Demonstrate technical competency.

Exhibit trustworthiness, integrity, courage, and honesty.

Get the right things done.  

Finally, while at the conference, random thoughts crossing my mind included: Extreme Ownership, a favorite book on leadership; The Power of Vulnerability, one of the most celebrated Ted Talks; and, “bloom where you’re planted,” a multifaceted phrase encouraging all to lead from where ever we are!