DEFINE YOU
Authenticity & Candor Say What You Mean by Aaron B. Bath, CEDS, RP® In October of 2021, I was tasked with giving a presentation at the NFPA’s National Convention on the topic of local association leadership as I was President of the Dallas Area Paralegal Association (DAPA) at the time. My goal was to convey important and actionable lessons I’ve learned and adopted in the areas of diversity considerations and effective communication during my time working in high-level legal management; both of which are paramount to success. This article is a summary of that communication section to address the inauthentic communication that is rampant within our profession, and developed into one of my top pet-peeves both professionally and personally. Raise your hand if you have had one of these phrases recited to you: • “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” • “There’s no such thing as a bad idea.” • “Just be positive”, or “let’s focus on being positive”, or “positive vibes only” or some other variation of meaningless noise. WHAT ABOUT FEEDBACK AND CRITICISM? What about feedback and criticism? Both are essential to making progress and developing as a skilled legal professional and human being in general. And YES there is such a thing as a bad idea. I know because I have both had them and heard them. When someone ratio-
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nalizes an action by saying “this is how we have always done it” or “this is our policy”, those are not good responses. It is ok and reasonable to expect more than that from the people you work or interact with. Another one is the stern expectation to always “be professional”. Or in other words, leave your humanity and personality at home (which just so happens to be the very best part of yourself).
Why would you not bring your personality, your style, and your authentic self to the table when communicating with others? We are not robots. Of course you don’t want to streak naked through your office or blurt cuss words during a meeting; we don’t need to be told that. But the constant messaging and expectation to act a specific way devoid of what makes you unique is counterproductive to growth, development, and the formation of meaningful professional relationships.
