It’s Not Hard to be the Smartest Person in the Room
Frequently I find myself sitting in our conference room with people who know a lot more about an issue than I do. That doesn’t, however, make them the smartest people in the room. I like to think that I know what I don’t know. And because I know what I don’t know, what I do know is how to ask questions and to challenge the experts to get to relevant analysis and impactful decisions.
When you’re consulting with attorneys as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant, they will challenge you and your opinions. And that’s a good thing. I wouldn’t want to consult with an attorney-client who didn’t challenge me.
But better yet, you should challenge your own opinions and everything you think you know. Having the insight to know that you don’t know something could just make you the smartest person in a room full of attorneys.
3 thoughts on “It’s Not Hard to be the Smartest Person in the Room”
As an experienced emergency room nurse, I am most aware of what I DON’T KNOW, and encourage novice nurses to do the same. I firmly believe that it makes me a much better, more astute, nurse. Looking forward to next week in Las Vegas!!!
As a registered nurse, I have always worked and lived with that simple little phrase, I do not have to know everything just know how to go about finding the answer. This does not make me less intelligent or more intelligent, it just makes it easier for me to manage my life. I just know a lot of people who know a lot of things when all put together. So we may say I have a real intelligent think tank of connections.
This week I received my first call for an introduction of my CLNC® services to a group of 8 attorneys. At first I was elated as this is the first call since my CLNC® Certification 2 months ago. Second I was very nervous about the presentation. It occurred to me that these are the very attorneys I have been working with for 14 years as their drug and alcohol testing expert. I suddenly became very relaxed and thought, I know these folks, I just need to refine my 60 second commercial and be as confident as I was about the previous experiences. I have already created drug and alcohol testing reports for these attorneys. No problem, just be confident, have my commercial ready and have my ducks in a row. What’s the worst thing that can happen? I can get some referrals from them. Win win for us all. So, I have decided to just be the same as I have always been, strong, confident and very personable about my new business opportunity here. Thank you Vickie for all your help and knowledge.
Jeffrey,
I believe the best description you give for anyone starting out as a CLNC® consultant is “we are that nexus for knowing a lot of people who know a lot of things.” I am going to use that phrase along with the “intelligent think tank of connections.” I had consistently tried to communicate that I may not have the answer at hand, but I know where to get it and will return with that answer along with appropriate documentation. I wish you the best of luck and success and hope the same for me. hahaha
LegalNurse.com is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
The National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants (NACLNC®) is the largest and oldest association of legal nurse consultants.
Need tuition assistance? We've partnered with Sallie Mae to provide financing options.
*The opinions and statements made by Vickie Milazzo, the founder of Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc. are based on her experiences and expertise, should not be applied beyond the specific context provided, and do not guaranty or project actual results. Vickie Milazzo is no longer involved in the operations or management of the business, but is involved as an independent education consultant.
As an experienced emergency room nurse, I am most aware of what I DON’T KNOW, and encourage novice nurses to do the same. I firmly believe that it makes me a much better, more astute, nurse. Looking forward to next week in Las Vegas!!!
As a registered nurse, I have always worked and lived with that simple little phrase, I do not have to know everything just know how to go about finding the answer. This does not make me less intelligent or more intelligent, it just makes it easier for me to manage my life. I just know a lot of people who know a lot of things when all put together. So we may say I have a real intelligent think tank of connections.
This week I received my first call for an introduction of my CLNC® services to a group of 8 attorneys. At first I was elated as this is the first call since my CLNC® Certification 2 months ago. Second I was very nervous about the presentation. It occurred to me that these are the very attorneys I have been working with for 14 years as their drug and alcohol testing expert. I suddenly became very relaxed and thought, I know these folks, I just need to refine my 60 second commercial and be as confident as I was about the previous experiences. I have already created drug and alcohol testing reports for these attorneys. No problem, just be confident, have my commercial ready and have my ducks in a row. What’s the worst thing that can happen? I can get some referrals from them. Win win for us all. So, I have decided to just be the same as I have always been, strong, confident and very personable about my new business opportunity here. Thank you Vickie for all your help and knowledge.
Jeffrey,
I believe the best description you give for anyone starting out as a CLNC® consultant is “we are that nexus for knowing a lot of people who know a lot of things.” I am going to use that phrase along with the “intelligent think tank of connections.” I had consistently tried to communicate that I may not have the answer at hand, but I know where to get it and will return with that answer along with appropriate documentation. I wish you the best of luck and success and hope the same for me. hahaha