YOU, TOO, CAN BE A LEADER

By Lori J. Boris, RP®, MnCP

One of my favorite stories about former President George W. Bush was when he was presenting the commencement address at Southern Methodist University, and to the group of graduates, he said, “To those of you who are graduating this afternoon with high honors, awards, and distinctions, I say, ‘Well done.’ And as I like to tell the C students, ‘You, too, can be president.’” Of course, he was referring to the fact that he, himself, struggled in college, yet actually rose to the top to spend two terms as President of the United States!

While G.W. Bush is not my favorite President, I do love that quote. First of all, I love it because it’s a funny, human, self-deprecating comment for the former leader of the free world to make to encourage that group of college graduates. But I also love it because it really is true! Like all of us, each of those graduates was facing the world worried about what kind of an impact they could make, and whether or not they had what it takes to succeed. Bush not only encouraged them that success was possible - he proved it was possible, because he stood before them as someone who had reached the heights of ambition as POTUS, yet whose grades in college, to put it kindly, lacked luster.

One of my favorite things about the decades I have been involved as a leader in paralegal associations is when I’ve had the opportunity to mentor other leaders. It excites me to be able to look at someone who may not think they have what it takes to be a leader, identify qualities that I see in them that would make them good leaders, and help them to see it in themselves. I have some wonderful success stories of leaders I’ve mentored over the years, one of whom is currently serving on the NFPA Board as your Director of Positions and Issues.

Are you thinking of being a leader in your local association, or even in the national organization? If not, you should be! My history with the Minnesota Paralegal Association (MPA) and the NFPA found me in roles like MPA President for three terms, NFPA Primary for two, NFPA Director of Positions for four years, and even NFPA President for part of a year before I had to step down for health reasons. During my decades in leadership, I have come to understand some qualities that make excellent leaders. I’m sure all of you can identify some of these qualities within yourselves, and I hope that it inspires YOU to step forward and be a leader, as well!

ARE YOU THINKING OF BEING A LEADER IN YOUR LOCAL ASSOCIATION, OR EVEN IN THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION? IF NOT, YOU SHOULD BE!

VISION.

Good leaders must have vision to lead. The definition of vision referred to here is Google’s definition of “vision in business”: “A vision is a vivid mental image of what you want your business to be at some point in the future, based on your goals and aspirations.” (Emphasis added.) As this relates to our paralegal associations, both at the local and national levels, I would take that definition one step further. As members of these paralegal associations, we also must have a vivid mental image not only of what we want our ASSOCIATIONS to be – but also of what we want our PROFESSION to be. That’s the reason that we become involved in these associations. We gather not only because it’s fun (even though it is). We come together as members of paralegal associations to support and moreover, to promote the paralegal profession – OUR profession.

You saw this happen recently when at the request of NFPA, the American Bar Association decided to reevaluate and revise its definition of a paralegal. That change came about because some NFPA leaders had vision. NFPA’s vision actually had a hand in changing the definition of a paralegal. I’m still amazed by that, but that’s the true power of vision.

IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS DRIVEN.

If you’re like me, there’s nothing better than a good brainstorming session with people throwing out ideas and coming up with new and creative ways to tackle old problems, or hatching brand new ideas that have never been imagined previously. I’m a true fan of the old adages: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” and “necessity is the mother of invention.” It doesn’t work one way? Find another way!

Humans have an amazing ability to create and imagine, and coming up with new and/or better ideas is what has spurred hu-

man progress through the centuries. Good leaders bring that ability to their leadership roles, and they realize that things don’t always have to be done “the way we’ve always done it.” Chances are, there are better ways to do things, and good leaders will be the ones to imagine them, support them, and bring them to fruition.

HEART OF A SERVANT.

Good leaders realize that they are not in leadership positions for power. Great leaders are in their positions to serve the members. Members vote for their leaders and put them in positions of responsibility to take good care of the business of the association. The best leaders approach their positions humbly and realize that they are there as a servant to the association and to the membership.

Obviously, the above list is not long, but these are some of the qualities that I, personally, have come to recognize as those that make some of the best leaders. Each of these three qualities could apply to any leadership position in a paralegal association, although certainly, each role requires its own sets of talents and/or interest – the Treasurer, for example, requires a keen understanding of financial principles and accounting procedures. (This is why I have never been a treasurer!)

The Secretary must be extremely detail-oriented and keep everybody in line, as well as have the ability to take in-depth notes and create minutes for every meeting.

A Certification Director must have a passion for and a keen understanding of the complex issues surrounding paralegal certification and be able to move those processes forward.

Each of us has different interests, abilities and attributes, that is a given - but know this: each of us – each of YOU – has the ability to be a leader.

I challenge you to look within yourself, even if you think you are not “leader material,” to find that spark, that ambition, and to step up to be a leader in your local association or even the national. Look around you at your fellow members and recognize the leadership potential in them and encourage them, as well.

And maybe you – yes YOU – can someday be a leader in the NFPA! LORI BORIS® is a litigation paralegal with nearly 25 years of experience. She’s currently at the law firm of Nilan Johnson Lewis PA in Minneapolis, Minnesota, working in the areas of Product Liability, ERISA/Insurance Law, Commercial Litigation and Employment law. Lori has been a leader in the Minnesota Paralegal Association (MPA) and the NFPA, serving as NFPA’s Director of Positions and Issues for 2016-2020 and President for a partial term in 2020-2021.