Dena Lefkowitz

June 28, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

If you are reading this, you are probably an investigator. It may not be your job title, but if you are a lawyer, auditor, doctor, HR business partner, manager, executive, etc., a big part of your job is investigatory, requiring you to arrive at well-reasoned, fact-based, modern decisions, guidance or recommendations. You regularly make searching, systematic inquiries based on examination of relevant facts, data and information. How do you determine what is relevant when you investigate? It's likely that you unconsciously select or rely too heavily on information you already agree with and pay little or no attention to data that conflicts with your beliefs.

By Dena Lefkowitz

14 minute read

May 25, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

How do you decide what to pay attention to in a world where an onslaught of images and messages is constantly delivered by way of a myriad of devices along with an ongoing scan of ­in-person threats, opportunities and attractions our brains must prioritize every ­second? How do you maneuver around the minutiae of everyday life and keep your focus trained on aspirations and ­achievement? One answer is to train your brain to navigate past the noise and focus on what is important.

By Dena Lefkowitz

12 minute read

April 27, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

A judge once told me that a ­successful settlement occurs when the ­plaintiff thinks he did not get enough and the defendant that he gave away too much. This viewpoint envisions both sides leaving negotiation with a measure of defeat. Some years ago when I was a trial lawyer, we were on the verge of choosing a jury when the judge called for a settlement ­conference, ordering both sides to come to his chambers with authority to settle. He asked us to write a number on a slip of paper and hand it to him. I wrote down the lowest amount I could accept and my opponent the highest number his client would pay. The judge picked up one slip, then the other, and smiled. Holding out both slips, he showed us that they had the same number. Sounds like a happy ending, right? But the case was not over yet because once my opponent realized that I would take his number, he tried to get out of it. It was not acceptable to pay any amount that would satisfy us, even though moments before he and his client would have happily settled at that figure.

By Dena Lefkowitz

14 minute read

March 22, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

In "The Confidence Code," authors Katty Kay and Claire Shipman attempt to glean the mysteries of self-confidence. The subtitle, "The Science and Art of ­Self-Assurance—What Women Should Know" nails more specifically the ­mission of the book to apply studies, research and data to assessing whether or not a ­confidence gap exists between women and men and what to do about it.

By Dena Lefkowitz

14 minute read

February 22, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

I have often said that I didn't begin to know myself until I was in my 30s and by then was already a litigator. An unhappy one. I chose to hang on and gut it out, confident that I could overcome my ­distaste for battle and learn to love litigation.

By Dena Lefkowitz

13 minute read

January 25, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

Last year, I read a post on LinkedIn titled, "Why Don't Law Schools Teach the #1 Factor for Success?" It was authored by Cole Silver, director of client relations at Blank Rome, and a perusal of his profile revealed a wealth of solid, crucial advice for lawyers on how to thrive regardless of layoffs, mergers and firm closures. Because marketing is a huge stumbling block for lawyers I coach, I asked Silver for an interview.

By Dena Lefkowitz

16 minute read

December 21, 2016 | The Legal Intelligencer

I am not a big fan of New Year ­resolutions. Turning the calendar page from December to January does not make one eager or ready to change long-standing habits and disillusionment often follows. But there is a year-end tradition that is both reflective and proactive—taking inventory of your world with an eye toward what is working, what you want more of and less of in your life and letting go of any perceived or real failures once you have gathered whatever gems they have to offer in the way of opportunity and awareness.

By Dena Lefkowitz

12 minute read

October 27, 2016 | The Legal Intelligencer

More people are telecommuting than ever before. According to a 2015 Gallup poll, 37 percent of U.S. workers have telecommuted, four times greater than the 9 percent found in 1995. The arrangements vary, and for some it is full time and for others limited to a few days a week. Recently, a client of mine with a portable workload was asked, along with her entire department, to telecommute as a strategy for the company to lease a smaller space. While this would have many jumping for joy, it was unwelcome news for her as she enjoyed daily interactions with coworkers. It required a shift in expectations, ­attitude and proactivity to create new rituals and routines to replace those of a traditional workplace.

By Dena Lefkowitz

12 minute read

September 21, 2016 | The Legal Intelligencer

What's next on your bucket list ­professionally? Do you ever think of starting your own ­business or joining a startup? Working for a new enterprise can be exhilarating, especially when you prepare yourself. How do you do that? By surrendering to the fact that growth requires change, so nothing stays the same, and recognizing opportunities to be better, even if you have to quickly override your own decisions. When a business starts at ground zero, initial growth is ­exponential, requiring resilience and constant adaptation to the demands of it. Before doing it, I recommend a ­hard-nosed, ­clear-eyed assessment of your life and whether or not it's a good time to jump in as well as an evaluation of the potential benefits.

By Dena Lefkowitz

13 minute read

August 24, 2016 | The Legal Intelligencer

I distinctly recall the first time I heard the word multitasking. It was in the late 1990s and I was in a colleague's office for a meeting. She was sitting behind her desk and I was in a chair facing her. As we talked, she began to straighten up, ­picking up papers and glancing at them before ­assembling them in neat stacks. I asked if she would prefer I come back to which she replied, "No, no, I'm just multitasking." Given the context, I was able to deduce the essence of the word, if not the precise definition. Setting aside the feeling of being a task she was handling, it was apparent that her full attention was not focused on our discussion.

By Dena Lefkowitz

13 minute read