The Progressive NJ Divorce Lawyer
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Society -> subcategory Divorce.
The Progressive NJ Divorce Lawyer
Title:
The Progressive NJ Divorce Lawyer
Summary:
Enhancing the Quality of Interviews, Meetings, and Settlement Conferences through Effective Use of Advocacy and Inquiry
Keywords:
Advocacy, Inquiry, Integrity, Lawyer
Article Body:
As NJ divorce attorneys, our training emphasizes advocacy within an adversarial framework. Many of us chose this profession due to inherent traits that align with advocacy, and skilled lawyers are typically inquisitive. However, their questioning style often mirrors cross-examination.
Improving our practice in non-adversarial, settlement-focused aspects requires refining how we apply advocacy and inquiry principles.
Advocacy involves expressing one's views. This might involve sharing feelings, thoughts, judgments, or advocating for a specific decision or action. Conversely, Inquiry involves asking genuine questions to gather information, avoiding disguised rhetorical questions like, “Isn’t it true that your administration’s fiscal policy has harmed the elderly?” or, “Some say you performed poorly in debates; how do you respond?”
In any discussion, our levels of advocacy and inquiry can vary. Regardless of their levels, we can project positivity or negativity based on our style and intent.
- High Advocacy, Low Inquiry: Positivity arises when we genuinely explain our views, but forcing opinions can be destructive. This approach can provide information but might not enhance understanding or commitment, often resulting in mere compliance or resistance.
- High Inquiry, Low Advocacy: This enables non-threatening information gathering but can turn into interrogation. Without sharing our views, we might carry hidden agendas or lead the conversation to reveal what we already believe.
Sometimes, minimal advocacy and inquiry are appropriate, like when observing attentively. However, withdrawal can occur, as seen in settlement conferences where one party’s intense advocacy causes the other to mentally check out. This approach might withhold important views on key issues.
In sessions where both advocacy and inquiry are high, mutual learning and appreciation of viewpoints flourish. This method fosters two-way communication: sharing views and inviting others to share theirs. It's essential to manage the pace to avoid overwhelming participants, considering personality types ?" while extraverts may thrive in high-energy dialogues, introverts might find them distracting.
Balancing advocacy and inquiry is crucial, but ensuring their quality is vital for positive outcomes. For instance, a comment like, “That’s a moronic idea” discourages problem-solving. Advocacy should involve explaining how our observations led to our views, while inquiry should genuinely seek others’ perspectives. High-quality advocacy and inquiry can lead to significant breakthroughs.
Twelve Practice Tips:
1. Acknowledge Different Perspectives: Assume you might miss points others see and vice versa. This assumption encourages intelligent listening and genuine inquiry.
2. Assume Integrity: Believe others act in ways that make sense to them, regardless of personal judgments.
3. Understand Problematic Behavior: Explore whether dilemmas or your actions contribute to difficulties.
4. Clarify Your Viewpoints: Use examples to explain your reasoning and share your thought process.
5. Understand Others’ Reasoning: Describe your understanding of their thought process.
6. Separate Intent and Impact: Identify negative consequences without attributing harmful intent.
7. Express Emotions Appropriately: Share emotions without blaming others for your feelings.
8. Seek Others’ Perspectives: Ask them to explain their reasoning and evidence for conclusions.
9. Identify Gaps in Your Thinking: Encourage others to point out potential errors.
10. Understand Difficult Actions: Ask others to explain their behavior, suggesting there might be reasonable explanations.
11. Explore Emotions Gently: Inquire about feelings without confrontation, like, “You seem upset; am I right?”
12. Assess Your Contribution to Problems: Explore if your actions are unintentionally problematic for others.
These tips have proven beneficial in both professional and personal contexts. May they also assist you.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: The Progressive NJ Divorce Lawyer.
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