Jeremy Dallman’s Post

As lawyers, we are GREAT at using our ‘executive’ brain. That’s the part of our brain capable of reasoning and problem solving. Let us loose analysing some complex documents or making a logical argument and we are on FIRE! Very useful. High fives all round. 😁 But being great at that comes with a downside. We tend to over-estimate the accuracy of our thoughts. We start to believe that we’re purely rational creatures.  And that is just not accurate. The executive function of our brain might be fantastic. But the other parts of our brain are running the show most of the time. I’m talking about the part of your brain that is constantly scanning for danger and hasn’t evolved to understand modern working environments. This is why you realise, on reflection, that the 20-minutes of panic you felt over the possibility that your boss MIGHT be annoyed with you, over a mistake you MIGHT have made…. was probably unjustified. But in the moment, you heart was beating out of your chest and you were seriously considering hiding under your desk for the rest of the day. So why am I making the point? Just so you know that not every thought you have is rational or the ‘truth’. ➡ Maybe that presentation wasn’t a “total disaster”.  ➡ Maybe your boss doesn’t think “you’re an idiot”.   ➡ Maybe you are “good enough”. Don’t believe everything your brain sends your way. 🔥 P.S. If you’d like to know how to take a bit more control over your thoughts and build your self-confidence in the process, just SEND ME A DM to book a free consult. You’ll get some help on the call and hear more about my program if we think it would be a good fit. 🔥 #womeninlaw #confidence #highperformance #careersuccess 

Thrilled to share my latest article on Medium where I open up about my journey of overcoming workplace anxiety and the power of asking questions. If you've ever felt the weight of uncertainty or doubted your abilities, this piece is for you. just open it. #PersonalGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #OvercomingChallenges

I've often used the phrase "attitude is everything," and there's a reason. As someone who grew up around a constant complainer, I have always been abundantly aware of the effects of cynicism and a negative attitude, in myself and in others. In myself, I have observed that negative spoken words and negative self-talk are tightly interrelated - careless talk reinforces careless thinking, and vice-versa - if left unchecked, the result is a downward spiral of negativity. A negative attitude (which I associate with cynicism) has a negative effect on oneself, as well as the world around us. In this WSJ article from Rachel Feintzeig discussing the down side of cynicism, referencing Jamil Zaki's research at Stanford. A few direct quotes: - "Cynics are prone to poor health, from depression to heart disease" - "Cynics tell a story full of villains and end up living in it" -"...at an organizational level, cynicism can lead to pervasive backstabbing, higher turnover and even corporate corruption" None of this means we must be eternally optimistic, or intellectually dishonest about problems we observe in the world, but it does imply that we are much better served by checking and working to improve our own attitude.

A few weeks ago I made a video 📽 called "Stop Saying We're Like a Family to Candidates" I guess I rustled some jimmies, as I had a few of you reach out and say "Hey we are absolutely a family and our staff LOVE 💕 it" The point of that video was to encourage #MSPs to stop saying "we're like a family" in the interview process and tell candidates about the things you ACTUALLY do that make your company so great. Not to downplay the importance of the culture you've worked so hard to build 🏗. So I made a list of 10 common traits that all of the companies that reached out to me share in common that make their cultures so beloved and special by their employees: 🎥 https://lnkd.in/eGXGBbNG If you're lazy and dont want to watch, here's the list: 1. Strong Communication 2. Supportive Leadership 3. Empathy 4. Team Collaboration 5. Work-Life Balance 6. Recognition and Appreciation 7. Shared Values 8. Inclusivity and Diversity 9. Social Events and Activities 10. Supportive Policies and Benefits If that list reflects or overlaps with your company culture, tell me more about it in the comments! 👇 #worklife #workculture #hiring

Thought-provoking column on: (my words) not being your own worst enemy at work. Here are the first few paragraphs: *** We don’t want to be friends with our co-workers. We don’t want to help out with that project. We don’t trust the CEO…or our boss…or that guy in accounting. Have we taken our cynicism at work too far? In some ways, our bad attitude makes sense. Many of us made work our church, only to end up laid off, burned out or underpaid. Now we check out, do less, gossip and snark. It isn’t getting us anywhere good, according to Jamil Zaki, a Stanford University psychology professor who runs the school’s social neuroscience lab. “Cynicism, if it were a pill, would really be a poison,” he says. Zaki has spent years researching sunny concepts such as empathy and compassion. One of his studies, for example, found that giving away money activates a similar part of the brain as eating chocolate. His forthcoming book, “Hope for Cynics,” explores the rise of our darker sides, our belief that other people are selfish, greedy and dishonest. Betrayed once, we practice what Zaki calls “pre-disappointment,” always assuming others will let us down. The mindset feels productive and cunning, like we’ll be able to protect ourselves. But Zaki says it can actually stunt our careers in the long run, and hurt our mental and physical health. “By never trusting, cynics never lose,” he writes. “They also never win.” #cynicism #work #workplace #attitude #employee #managment #business #organizations https://lnkd.in/gcBWEquk

We all want to be able to make excuses for our mistakes. Just like Manning did. And while we get a kick watching a child make such a compelling case for a leprechaun 🍀 writing on the walls, we similarly believe in the "truth" of many of our own excuses explaining... Why we were late Why we got angry Why we missed the deadline Why we failed to keep our promises We're quick to judge others and equally quick to offer justifications for our own shortcomings and mistakes. Let's make this week exceptional by committing to complete, total ownership, Jocko Willink style. No excuses. No justifications. 100% accountability. Oh, and quit writing on the walls (unless your workplace permits it. 😉😜) #accountability #noexcuses #allin

“When people model open, accessible actions as an everyday norm, it takes away some of the cliquey toxicity that damages even the most motivated person’s morale. It gives people the clarity to do their jobs, the confidence to know they can raise an issue - the sense that they belong.” I loved this statement by Selena Rezvani (she/her) in her Quick Confidence book. #quickconfidence #powersharing

Ugh, procrastination... Whether it's a personal goal, a work assignment, or a creative endeavor, there are times when we find ourselves procrastinating and unable to take that first step. What is it that's holding us back? How do we get "unstuck"? Check out my blog post https://wix.to/socmEbU #procrastinationstrategies #getunstuck

A mindful minute, anyone? After yesterday's "reflection" post, I thought maybe I should do a more 'back to business' one today - you know, about how at LexSolutions we help stretched legal teams with ideas, innovation and impact. However, after brilliant calls today with Lorna Khemraz, Chris Grant, Denis Potemkin and Paula Doyle, I sense even more strongly the need for us to find time to centre and slow down. It's been an incredibly busy time for most. And the wider world impact weighs heavily. We're running to the end of the year as light and weather deteriorate. It's ever important to find moments to stop and be. Especially as we head into the weekend (and half term!). This one is to remind us that we can do that, even in slightly gloomy conditions. Remember the guidelines: 1. See everything, focusing on nothing in particular. 2. Hear it all (train, rain, ducks, runner footsteps), listening to nothing. 3. Just be and let it all pass through. How was it? Happy Friday folks! 😉 #leadership #presence #culture #wellbeing #lawyers #manumindfulminute

Is it? It can be and it does not have to be. There is a fine line between confidence & arrogance. Sean Byrnes writes a regular piece on Substack and this week's piece on 'Confidence vs-a-vis Arrogance' is a really good piece where he takes the dual perspective on: 1 - are you better than your competition? 2 - are your employees happy? 3 - are your investors happy with your performance? 4 - do you have enough $ to reach your next milestone or inflexion point? 5 - are you burning out? Really good contrasts - it is good to have ego, if it is utilised to enable you to move forward. That means at times you can be inflated in your belief systems to get through, but there are other times when you really need to be in check about the truth of things like the working environment and culture in your team. https://lnkd.in/gK9pks5S