Reimagine Law

We thought that it is timely to revisit our “Skill-Kit” series for listeners as we come out the pandemic, reviewing some important themes which we should all keep “top of mind” – and giving some reminders of how to develop these skills. In this episode we look at a number of related areas. The ability to be agile and resilient, how to be more self-aware in relating to others, the impact we have (and would like to have!), and tips on creating the reputation or “brand” we would like.

Show Notes

Resilience and agility

We often talk about the importance of resilience, but what does it actually mean in the workplace and how can you build this key attribute?

Nigel, Simon and Fran from the ReImagine Law team discuss the interconnectedness of resilience and agility, as well as giving some key tips to listeners to help them develop these skills.
 
 Most of us learn most from when we fail at something, so one key to building resilience is to try something different where you’ll find it a stretch.  Keep a curious, mind-set, and have ‘fail fast and learn fast’ as one motto to build resilience, with ‘FAIL’ as a ‘First Attempt In Learning!  We often talk about the ability to bounce back.  If you try something new the advantage is that you will bounce back in a slightly different direction ‘because if you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you always got’!
 
 How can connecting with different people help you build resilience? This episodes encourages listeners to embrace failure, jump in the deep end and think about stretching their boundaries to ensure they have opportunities to develop, and develop at speed!
 
 Useful resources
 
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/resilience.htm

https://www.ted.com/talks/raphael_rose_how_failure_cultivates_resilience

Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

The expression; ‘people buy people first’ demonstrates the importance of using ‘emotional intelligence’ to understand the impact you have.  It is a key professional and personal skill. But what is emotional intelligence and how can it be developed?

In this episode, Nigel and Simon discuss what emotional intelligence is and how you can use this skill to build self-awareness.  They share tips and tricks about how these capabilities can help you to develop your career, increasing your impact in key situations and building strong networks.   
 
 Useful resources
     
 Daniel Goleman (psychologist – 5 core elements of emotional intelligence)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7m9eNoB3NU
       
Five ways to develop emotional intelligence, Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2018/05/29/5-ways-to-develop-your-emotional-intelligence/?sh=31371e986976

Personal brand and impact

How would you like to be perceived by others? What impact would you like to leave? This episode discusses how to build your own personal brand and highlights some of the common errors that people make!

In this episode, Kerry and Simon discuss the balance between being authentic to yourself, and purposefully creating the right impact.  What do you want people to say about you when you are not in the room? In an increasingly consumer-oriented society, authenticity is important – and you need to get the balance right between raising your profile and not ‘over-selling’! So look deep and let your values lead how you structure your personal brand.  The team give some helpful examples of authentic and non-authentic behaviour they have seen from individuals when interviewing for a new job or promotion.
 
 Useful resources
 Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/goldiechan/2018/11/08/10-golden-rules-personal-branding/?sh=71e9c7a458a7
Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2011/03/reinventing-your-personal-brand

Reflective practice

We know that reflection is not a ‘fad’ – it is one of the key ways we learn and develop as human beings. But how can you do it effectively to benefit your development and gain the most from your experiences?

Reflection is an important tool to turn an experience into a moment when learning is captured for the future.  In this episode Nigel and Fran explore why it is important to reflect and how to do this practically.  They discuss the importance of ‘journaling’ (or even ‘double journaling’) and how your peers and networks can help you with reflection.
 
 Useful resources
-       What is reflection (The Open University): file:///C:/Users/ltw571/Downloads/Activity%2011%20What%20is%20reflection.pdf
-        Jisc – Student Self Reflection: https://www.jisc.ac.uk/guides/transforming-assessment-and-feedback/self-reflection

Ted Talks – Personal Empowerment through Reflection and Learning https://www.ted.com/talks/dr_craig_mertler_personal_empowerment_through_reflection_and_learning

What is Reimagine Law?

A podcast about legal education to help students navigate an increasingly complex set of career path choices, and build the mind-set of being a life-long learner. We're here to promote innovative education, and diverse workforces by democratising access to career advice from both experts and current students alike.