coaching + curiosity

stage's core coaching skills include a module on curiosity + active listening for #lawyers and #legalmarketing teams. Understanding a client's communication and listening style is imperative for the client to feel understood and, more importantly, heard. But what if you think you are showing enthusiasm and excitement, but in reality, you are interrupting?

Enter the work of linguist Deborah Tannen. She discusses listening approaches in her book, "Conversational Style."

This topic also resurfaced after a TikTok video discussed the conversational differences between regions (New Yorkers versus everywhere else). Inc. Magazine published a piece on this topic, stating, "Your professional conversations will go better if you understand different people view interruptions differently."

Even at stage, we are regrounding ourselves in our conversation approaches. We have three different principals in three different cities, and we are applying our learnings and realizations internally and passing along those learnings to others.

"Interrupters" can fall into the conversational style category of "cooperative overlapping" the intent of "cooperative overlap" isn't to silence or disrespect your conversation partner. It signals enthusiasm and interest in what the person is saying, which works amazingly when you're talking to someone who shares this conversational style. But when an overlapper meets a person more accustomed to viewing any interruption as rude? Misunderstandings and even conflict can occur. Not a great look for understanding the client.

So, if you are a cooperative overlapper, how can you better communicate with others?

Be present and observe. If you notice that your conversation partner isn't responding well to your chiming in (e.g., they stop talking or seem uncomfortable), try expressing your engagement in non-verbal cues instead, like nodding. If you do overlap (aka interrupt), acknowledge it, then encourage the other person to continue talking.

What is your conversational style?

beyond business cards - authentic networking within the legal world

What does networking mean? What is networking? What is networking even mean today? What is authentic networking mean? In this episode of This Legal Life, host Ben Chiriboga is joined by Principal and Co-Founder of stage, Megan Senese. Megan and Ben are diving into what it really means to network and how can we network authentically to build stronger and more impactful relationships.

listen here

spotlight: Wendy Wei Chou | Founder + CEO | DealMakers

stage guides legal professionals behind the scenes and leverages our co-sourced model to support BD + marketing departments so they can #shine.

today's stage spotlight is on Wendy Wei Chou (Founder and CEO of Dealmakers Forums). Wendy is a marketing veteran bringing over 20+ years of experience in marketing + communications, events, and content creation. She created the first series of intellectual property monetization and finance conferences starting in 2001 —and hasn't looked back, producing over 100 successful #events.

we are thrilled to share Wendy's stage spotlight.

spotlight: Lee Peretz | Director of Marketing & Business Development | Farrell Fritz

stage supports business development and #legalmarketing teams from behind the scenes to help #lawyers and their clients shine.

today's stage spotlight is on Lee Peretz (Director of Marketing & Business Development at Farrell Fritz, P.C.). Lee is the ultimate Go-Giver and a self-proclaimed chief motivator who exudes kindness.

it is our honor to share Lee's spotlight. 🌟

competing priorities + balancing time commitments

Competing priorities and balancing time commitments and deadlines while executing business development activities often create an environment rewarding an “always on 24/7” mentality.

As BD + #marketing professionals supporting lawyers and large law firms, at times, we personify the very definition of hamster wheel. As #lawyers, your clients may make unreasonable demands. Giving yourself permission for time and space will result in better productivity, better service delivery, and client delight.

stage makes a conscious and sustained effort to provide space between meetings (allowing our brains to reset), and to move our bodies (our co-founder, Jennifer Ramsey, is also a certified yoga teacher), and we have built-in one mental health day a quarter (outside of PTO) to disconnect and recharge.

Be selfish. Yes, that sounds counter-intuitive. Only you can control your time. We say, be selfish. Do the self-care. Without self-care, we cannot care for others.

showing up for clients

How do you show up?

Our co-founder, Kathleen Hilton, is certified with Inspiring Comfort and is bringing empathy and engagement to her work with lawyers and legal marketing teams.

While May is Mental Health Awareness Month, our work will continue beyond just this month.

How are you showing up for others and yourself? 💜

Kathleen Hilton joins the latest cohort of Inspiring Comfort certified trainers.

Kathleen Hilton joins the latest cohort of Inspiring Comfort Certified Trainers.

In Kathleen's words on why she she shows up: "Humans are suffering as the chasm between connection and isolation widens. With comfort, I make a conscious choice to activate empathy and engage. Through comfort, my goal is to inspire hope."

We are lucky to work alongside our partner, the ultimate Go-Giver, who brings grace and space when showing up and comforting others.
#work #empathy #stage

spotlight: Peyton Tata Tackes | Marketing Director | Ross Scalise

stage guides lawyers behind the scenes and leverages our co-sourced model to support BD + marketing departments so they can #shine.

today's stage spotlight is on Peyton Tata Tackes (Marketing Director at Ross · Scalise Employment Lawyers), who leverages her experience developing innovative solutions, building relationships, and creating tailored messaging to exceed clients' expectations.

we are proud to feature Peyton.

spotlight: Vanessa Petrea | Senior Proposal Manager | Perkins Coie

stage guides lawyers behind the scenes and leverages our co-sourced model to support BD + marketing departments so they can SHINE.

today's stage spotlight is on Vanessa Vines Petrea (Senior Proposal Manager at Perkins Coie LLP), who leans on her gift of compelling storytelling to set her team and lawyers up for success.

we are ecstatic to share Vanessa's stage spotlight.