I’m going to try and bring humor to this blog series, because, let’s face it, some of what we do as professionals is funny (especially when you look at it from the outside). That said, I’m going to start this blog series out on a more serious and philosophical note.
I’m going to try and bring humor to this blog series, because, let’s face it, some of what we do as professionals is funny (especially when you look at it from the outside). That said, I’m going to start this blog series out on a more serious and philosophical note.
The overall business culture today is teetering on losing two values that are critical to forming real relationships with clients. You guessed it, those values are integrity and communication. I believe it is a reflection of our overall tendencies post-covid to cancel plans, not respond to texts/phone calls, not care well for our coworkers, clients, friends and family, because, at the core of our covid years, we all had some level of fear that we would not survive the pandemic. What does that do to the brain? It puts it into survival mode. In survival mode, put succinctly, we focus on ourselves to the exclusion of others. In that state, we often do not act with integrity and communicate poorly. In my experience, this trend continues to be pervasive.
I’m clearly not qualified to make some of these statements, so if you want to read more from those who are, check out:
What’s your point, Sara, you ask? My point is that once we have awareness of something, we can transcend it. Integrity and great communication are critical to professional success. They are the basis for trust, which is integral to any relationship, be it business or personal.
Let’s start with integrity . . . This is an “old fashioned” word, that essentially means an adherence to a code of moral values, conveying that you honor and act in accordance with what you say. If you’re picking up what I’m putting down, you see why I tied these two concepts together. Integrity contains within in the concept of communication!
To act in accordance with what you say, you have to start with what you say. So, now we go to the beginning – First, be thoughtful about what you say and how you say it, because if you are to act with integrity, you must speak carefully and precisely. Words are magical, and I can say that as an attorney who uses them to bind people in contract all day long. Words are also meaningful, because people hear the from you and rely upon them. When you act with integrity in relation to the words you use, that builds trust. Trust is the foundation for every relationship.
Boom! This is why integrity and communication are values that are critical to a successful professional. Plus, more importantly, it’s the right thing to do. It’s the right way to treat people. It’s a way to be in the world that brings growth, positivity, connection, and success to all.
What’s your “aha” moment where integrity has won the day, and/or communication has built or strengthened trust in a relationship? I’d love to hear from you! Until next time, put these values to work in your professional world and enjoy the positive results!
Hi! My name is Olivia Syrup and I am so excited to join Stock Legal as a summer associate! I was born and raised in St. Louis and just completed my 2L year at Saint Louis University School of Law. Before law school, I earned my bachelor’s in political science and sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
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Hello! My name is Josh Schmidt, and I am excited to begin my role at Stock Legal as a 2025 Summer Associate. I cannot wait to contribute to the valuable, personalized work the firm provides to both the community and its clients.
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I was in law school and gunning for that perfect big firm summer associate position. What no one told me is that the interviewing process would involve lunch. At a fancy restaurant. With fancy food. And more silverware than I’d ever seen having grown up in a small Illinois town where a big night out was Red Lobster.
Yes, we talked about communication last week, but it’s worth writing a bit more on this topic, because so much is gained and lost in what’s said, not said, missaid, misunderstood, and not conveyed reassuringly, etc.
