Setting Career Goals (and Why It Matters)

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."  --Henry David Thoreau

 

Yes, it is important to set goals for yourself.  Whether you realize it or not, you have already been setting and achieving goals.  For starters, you made the decision to become a paralegal, then you graduated from school, and now (hopefully) you are employed as a paralegal.  Boom!  3 goals accomplished!  I set goals to motivate me and to help determine  the direction of my career.  I utilize goal setting to help me evaluate my career and determine where I want to go next. 

Not sure how to start shaping your career?  My advise is to start small and within a small time frame.   Why?  I have found it easier to focus my energies on goals that I believe I can accomplish in a given time frame.  Say to yourself, "in three (3) years, I want to be _______" and fill in your own blanks.  Or if you are brand new paralegal, start even smaller.  Once you get settled into your job, envision where you hope to be the same time next year.  You just might be amazed at how much you learned over that first year. 

Write down those goals and keep them somewhere where you can refer to them from time to time.  Oh, and of course, bigger goals or those goals far in the future are important so set those as well go for it! 

Most importantly, do not get discouraged if you do not accomplish all (or any) of your goals in the initial time you set for yourself.  For example, it is a goal of mine to become NALA certified and has been my goal since I graduated from my paralegal program.  I have bought the books, made note cards, attended a review course, but as with many of us, life sometimes gets in the way.  I still want to reach that goal, I just have moved it to my long ranging goal list. 

What if my goals are different from when I started making them?  It is completely normal for your goals change.  Change is a part of life and being able to adapt to change is a great skill to possess.  Changing or evolving goals means you are taking charge and being responsible for your career.  A must for a successful paralegal. 

What are some goals you have set for yourself?
 

Your non-legal communication style

"Communicate unto the other person that which you would want him to communicate unto you if your positions were reversed."  -- Aaron Goldman

We study hard in school to learn legal terminology in order to communicate effectively with our attorneys and other legal professionals.   It can become second hand glossing over terms and topics you know and work in every day. But, what can be easily lost and forgotten is the ability to translate what we have learned into "non-legal speak" when dealing with clients, as most will not be familiar with legal terminology. 

For example, part of my job is to collect information and documents.  When I reach out to clients (especially the first time) I take the first 5 minutes of my conversation to discuss the process and why their cooperation is important and allow time to answer their questions, if any. I believe it is important to take the time to explain what you need in a way to help the person understand why you are collecting the information, what their role in the process entails.  Of course, always remember to thank them for their assistance.   

Also, remember to be patient with your clients.  You may have to explain a topic or term to them a few times and that is ok.  (Remember how long it took you to grasp some concepts in school?) Patience truly is a virtue! 

What are some helpful tips you have for communicating in a non-legal way?
 

My Paralegal Playlist

Music is the shorthand of emotion.  - Leo Tolsto

I love music.  In my opinion, the right song can describe any situation and can help inspire me, motivate me or help me navigate through a rough day or rough patch in my career.  Let's take a peek at some of the songs on my paralegal playlist!


Does anyone else miss the days of cassette
walk mans and portable CD players?

When I need inspiration:
"Suddenly I see" by KT Tunstall - one of my all time favorite songs.  I turn this one up if I'm looking for a little meaning in my career (yes, we all have those days), discover a new career goal, or simply need reminding about how awesome I am as a paralegal.
"Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield - the words help me remember that my career is an open book and I have control over the path I take. 

When I need motivation:
 Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor - just humming that "du, du du du, du du du, du, du, du" (yes, I am humming the beat in my head as I type) an awesome song that can get this paralegal pumped to finish a tough assignment.
"Good Life" by One Republic -  reminder to keep your head up and focus on the positive. 
"Hall of Fame" by The Script - the lyrics speak for themselves.  Plus, I think there should be a Paralegal Hall of Fame.  I know some very deserving Paralegals!
 
And of course, we all need songs to help you get through those occasional rough days at the office or rough patch in your career:
"I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.  You bet I'm including this one.  The thing to remember is to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward.  Each day presents its own unique set of challenges and this song can give you just the boost you are looking for to remember what a great paralegal you truly are!
 "Everything's gonna be alright" Bob Marley - if you are experiencing a rough patch in your career, just remember things will get better.  They may take time and action on your part, but the sun does keep coming up each day. 

While this is not an expansive list, these songs have served a purpose for me in my career.  What are some songs on your playlist?

Teamwork

"Respect your fellow human being, treat them fairly, disagree with them honestly, enjoy their friendship, explore your thoughts about one another candidly, work together for a common goal and help one another achieve it."  - Bill Bradley

My second favorite time of the year, March Madness, has come to a close.  I think this is the perfect time to write about the importance of teamwork and being a team player in the daily life of a Paralegal.  Being able to work with all members of your legal team is important and a valuable asset to possess.  A team player provides assistance when needed and is not afraid to step in on short notice to help get the job done.  

Try to be aware of what is going on in your group or department.  If you are at lunch with your co-workers or chatting at the copy machine and a co-worker mentions an interesting assignment or just seems stressed about their workload, don't be afraid to speak up and offer assistance.  Even if they don't need it at the time, you might be the first person they call when they do need help.  Of course, anytime you are thinking of taking on additional work, be sure to check with your supervising attorney so they can approve of the work. 

Anytime you take on a new assignment, be sure to get clear instructions and ask any relevant questions at that time.  Follow up with in a timely manner to provide updates on your work.  It's a simple way to let that person know you are still working on the assignment.  Communication is important part of teamwork.   

My best advice for being a great team player is to NEVER use the phrase "It's not my job."  If you have ever uttered those words, immediately remove it from your professional vocabulary.  A bad attitude will close off opportunities for learning and development.   Instead, switch out the negative with the simple phrase "How can I help?"  A good attitude and willingness to work as part of a team will take you far in your career! 

My personal motto is I'm happy to help and if I don't know how to do the assignment, show me how to do it and I'll get it done.  This attitude has opened up a lot of opportunities for me and I have learned a lot. 

Resolutions 2: Get organized or re-organize your space

"It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan." - Eleanor Roosevelt

(Editor's Note:  I realized I posted Resolution 3 before 2.  No rhyme or reason, I was just really enjoying reminiscing about the start of my career!) 

At the end of the day or week, I try to take an extra 5 minutes to pull together my assignments for the next day/week.  It helps me to hit the ground running.  Organization is essential to being an effective and efficient Paralegal.  Sometimes little changes help, whether it be rethinking how you file your emails or keep track of your projects.  If you can afford it or your firm/employers allow it, think about adding some color to your work.  I love to use color folders to represent different clients or types of work.  Visual reminders can help identify work quickly and help you prioritize your assignments.  The most important tip I can give is to find what works best for you, but make sure it is a system you can commit to and stick with for at least 6 months or more. 

What are the ways you like to stay organized?