Developing Your Emotional Intelligence

Relationships with clients are central to every law practice. Clients may seek you out because of your technical expertise, but they are unlikely to retain your services unless they develop a rapport with you. Similarly, no law practice can operate effectively without substantial cooperation between partners, associates, and staff. The ability to relate well to others and to manage your own emotions is often referred to as “emotional intelligence.” A raft of studies have shown that possessing a high emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) contributes at least as much to career success as intellectual abilities, and it may actually be far more valuable than analytical skills for people in leadership positions or customer-facing roles. Because the training lawyers receive emphasizes knowledge of the law and not psychology, the value of getting along well with others often goes unrecognized. EQ represents a tangible set of skills that can be measured and, to …