Law Firm Leadership Try It The Jill Ellis Way

Developing the Next Generation of Rainmakers Law Firm Leadership: Try it the Jill Ellis Way Needless to say, this was quite a 4th of July weekend. With all the turmoil going on in the United States, this weekend should have brought us together. On Friday, we listened to Lee Greenwood sing: God Bless the USA. The video below is from 30 years ago. I still get goose bumps listening. And I gladly stand up next to you And defend her still today ‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land God bless the U.S.A. On the 4th, Nancy and I left on an early flight from Hailey, Idaho. As we drove through town at 6:00 AM the main street was already lined with lawn chairs, beach chairs and in front of a church folding chairs. I wondered just how early people were allowed to stake out their spot for the 4th of July parade. Then, like many of you, Nancy and I watched the US Women’s soccer team win the World Cup. It was like 1999, all over again. Read about it in In a Rout and a Romp, U.S. Takes World Cup. While Carli Lloyd was magnificent scoring three goals, I was struck during many games by how the team played together. As the Wall Street Journal noted it starts with Jill Ellis. U.S. Women’s Team Gels Around Jill Ellis. I Like this about Jill Ellis: Ellis said from the moment she took over this team in May 2014, she has tried to be honest with her players, even as she tries to give her words a positive spin to maintain their confidence. “I try to give them a voice,” she said. “I try to ask them, ’What do you need from me?’” Are you a law firm leader? Have you ever asked your lawyers: “What do you need from me?” If you want to read more on lawyers teaming together for success, read Ed Poll’s article:  For Lawyers as for Athletes, There Is No ‘I’ in ‘Team’ I practiced law for 37 years developing a national construction law practice representing some of the top highway and transportation construction contractors in the US.