Katherine E. Giddings is deputy chair of Akerman's litigation practice group in Tallahassee.

Name a secret ingredient or two for effective mentoring.

Patience, empathy and getting to know one another well are the most critical aspects of effective mentoring. With these attributes, you can better understand the perspective of the mentee, which is essential to imparting knowledge and experience in an effective manner. By the same token, being mentored also requires these same qualities. With these attributes, you have a strong basis on which to build a lasting and productive rapport.

What's the most important leadership lesson you've learned and why is it so valuable?

Communicate ideas and convictions clearly, concisely and with confidence. Master the facts, make informed judgments, take action, listen to feedback and be willing to recognize that one day your mentees will be the ones in charge. You create a sense of buy-in and empowerment with this approach.

Which leadership skills were the most difficult for you to develop?

Develop the ability to weather criticism and have faith in your instincts and judgment — to fully grasp that the decisions you are making are for the greater good of the team and will ultimately be beneficial for everyone. A key aspect of this approach is transparency and honesty. You need those on your team to understand your thought process and approach – and communicate each in a clear, unambiguous manner.

How do you teach negotiating skills?

I think it all starts with seeking a holistic understanding of the situation. Do the work to understand your position, including the strengths and weaknesses of your case, the array of potential outcomes, and what you need to come away with in a negotiation — and understand the power of "no."

When trying to obtain buy-in for something new or sustaining, what tactics work for you?

When you are transparent with your goals and convictions, and your communication is crystal clear, buy-in follows. And having a reputation for being open to feedback and correcting course as required provides the team an opportunity to stay engaged and be a part of the solution.

Do you have any quick tips for re-energizing an overworked team?

Keep communication lines completely open and well utilized. Since we have not been seeing each other in the office much (most of us have been working from home), we text and talk A LOT — about life in general, as well as working through legal and appellate issues. Transparency, communication and continuous feedback in both directions provide people an outlet for airing and resolving issues and provides visibility to the "big picture," which keeps people engaged.

What are the best ways for people to stay connected to a key mentor over time and locations?

It takes discipline. Lawyers — like many professionals — are constantly busy with client work, which is the top priority. You have to take a disciplined approach to making time for those who you mentored or who mentored you — be it lunches, coffees, Zooms or even a simple check-in email. Staying connected with those important in our lives (and mentees are in this category) means making the effort despite the workload and not waiting for some elusive "break in the action."