Unleashing Your Inner Advocate: The Power of Building an Alter Ego for Lawyers

Those who know me well are aware of my immense admiration for Todd Herman and his book, "The Alter Ego Effect." It was recommended to me by my sales coach after I mentioned that one of my advisors suggested I adopt a 'uniform' and lower my voice. She encouraged me to do a power pose before every sales call and to project a commanding CEO voice. Intrigued, I delved into Todd Herman's book, and it captivated me from start to finish. I devoured its contents within five days and promptly reached out to Todd. Since then, I have participated in one of his master classes and attended his breakthrough entrepreneurship workshop, both of which I highly recommend!

Now, you may be wondering, what relevance does this have for lawyers? It wasn't until today when I listened to a podcast interview that the pieces fell into place. Todd mentioned that defense attorneys sometimes instruct their clients to wear glasses in court, as it tends to yield better outcomes. Although I'm not a lawyer myself but rather a technologist who has dedicated my life to innovating keyboards, I recognize the significance of keyboards for lawyers. Keyboards serve as our primary means of communication from the moment we wake up, and lawyers, in particular, rely heavily on typing. Unfortunately, its importance is often overlooked, much like the concept of identity work.

Have you ever watched the TV series 'Suits' and pondered what Harvey and Donna did with the can opener? Despite watching all nine seasons, I never quite figured it out, but it hinted at a pretrial ritual. Similar to athletes who carry lucky charms or perform rituals to enter a state of flow, I believe lawyers could benefit from developing an alter ego. Let's face it—we all have our traumas, sometimes stemming from work. We overhear distressing details of accidents or crimes, and we all need to find ways to cope and step out of our own way.

I recall interpreting for an asylum case once, where the client's mother was deported, partly due to her tendency to laugh whenever she felt nervous. Despite fighting for her life, her message didn't convey the seriousness she desired because her nerves got the better of her.

Have you ever coached your clients to enhance their performance through specific behaviors? It could involve wearing glasses or, if they're not appropriately dressed, ensuring the judge doesn't see them at all. Needless to say, I believe it's worth contemplating because, in critical moments, we all strive to embody our most courageous selves.

Which persona would you try on for size? Who do you believe would excel fearlessly? Try stepping into their shoes. I promise you won't regret it.