My teenage son, Jack, likes to practice difficult conversations with me.

We role-play how he might start the conversation, and how he might react to the possible responses he'll get.

This morning, on the way to school, we discuss one of the most difficult conversations he'll face. He likes a girl. A girl who he's developed a friendship with all year. We'll call her Olivia, because that's her name.

Jack would like to ask Olivia to move from the friend zone into the girlfriend zone.

He doesn't know how to start. So, we talk about it:

Me: What if you start by saying "Olivia, I like you."?

Jack: Mom, there is no way I can say that. That's so ... vulnerable.

Me: Yeah. It is. There's a real power in being vulnerable. Being vulnerable is a superpower.

Jack: It sounds like you're talking to a 5-year old. Superpower?

Me: I don't mean it that way. I tell that to lawyers that I work with all the time.

Jack: You do?

I do.

As a jury consultant, a huge focus for me when I'm working with my lawyer clients is voir dire.

The more vulnerable the jurors are willing to be with the information they share in jury selection, the better decisions those lawyers are able to make, and the more they increase their chances of winning.

The lawyers who get the most vulnerable stories from their jurors?

The ones who are willing to demonstrate vulnerability themselves.

The good news is that vulnerability is a superpower that we can all develop. It doesn't take innate talent. It isn't a secret only available to certain people. It's a skill that you can practice in your everyday conversations.

Lesson of the day, you have a superpower. Just make sure you're putting it to use.

Best,
Keeley

P.S. Don't miss my upcoming workshop, ChatGPT for Cross Examination. Register here.

​