Personal capital: Inspire confidence

You might be an error-free, 100-word-a-minute typist and a Microsoft Word whiz. You might have a photographic memory and an encyclopedic knowledge of court rules.

None of this matters, however, if your lawyers don’t develop enough confidence in you to let you demonstrate your stellar skills.

I’ve learned a lot from the feedback my lawyers give to floaters who fill in for me when I’m out, as well as their occasional comments about other secretaries in our firm, and, of course, their reactions to me. Despite indications to the contrary, lawyers are human. As such, they can be put off by some of the most seemingly irrelevant things.

First, there’s the obvious: your appearance. I went into depth on this one in my last personal capital post, so I won’t do so again here. Suffice it to say that you must be dressed and groomed professionally. In addition to smart clothing, your hair and your makeup (if you choose to wear it) must convey the impression of someone who is ready to do business. If you look like you’re set to go jogging, vedge out on the couch, or pose for glamor photos, then don’t expect to be taken seriously.

There’s also the appearance of your desk. One of the most sought-after traits in a legal secretary is organization. If your desk is in perpetual disarray, your lawyers will wonder how someone who can’t organize herself can organize them. You don’t have to be the office equivalent of Martha Stewart; in fact, a desk that’s too clean might make you appear underutilized. But there should be a place for everything, and the items you use most often should be within arm’s reach (so you’re not seen fumbling).

Then there are the less tangible qualities — those personality traits that make you relatable to the attorney.

Confidence. When you have confidence in yourself, this communicates itself to others and inspires their confidence in you. Lawyers absolutely must sense that you’re certain of yourself. If there’s an area where you feel you need improvement, then find ways to improve.

Energy. If you’re tired, have some of your caffeine of choice (Earl Grey or Enviga for me, thanks) and get more sleep tonight than you did last night. Get up and move occasionally to keep the blood pumping. If you’re sick, go home. You need to be seen as being up to the tasks at hand.

Approachability. Your demeanor should be open and friendly, so that lawyers feel comfortable asking you to do things. Sure, there are those who would throw their tapes at you even if you were visibly crying, but most lawyers are human enough to want to work with someone who is receptive. This is especially important with baby lawyers, for whom you’re probably the first-ever secretary.

Awareness. Not just of work issues, but of the wider world. Current events are great for around-the-desk small talk, and your knowledge of them demonstrates that you’re someone who pays attention and cares about things beyond her own immediate sphere. (Just avoid straying into politics.) Even if you don’t like sports, pay attention to at least the sports headlines.

Humor. Most of the lawyers I’ve known have used humor to relieve the stress that is inherent in their jobs. They tend to respect someone who can make a good joke from time to time, so if you have a well-developed sense of humor, let it show. But no off-color jokes, ethnic jokes, or any other mean-spirited humor, please!

Team-playing. Cheerfully work overtime when needed. Offer to help when others are overwhelmed (but not at the expense of your own work). Be genuinely interested in the goals of your lawyers and their clients. Don’t complain unless you’ve exhausted every other reasonable means of handling a problem — including simply tolerating it.