As we prepare for the upcoming Flex Success™ Leadership Institute, we will be featuring the industry experts who will guide participants from high potential to high performance.
This week, we are pleased to feature Colleen Vossler, Founder and CEO of Vossler Negotiations LLC. Colleen will teach participants how to ask for what they want, manage disagreements, and develop a winning negotiation style to move their career forward.
The Spotlight on Flex showcases professionals from member organizations who exemplify personal and professional success while working a flexible schedule. Their stories illustrate the long-term benefits that flexible schedules offer to both individuals and organizations.
This month, we are pleased to share insights from Beth Dickstein, Partner in the Chicago office of Sidley Austin LLP.
Diversity & Flexibility Alliance: How have you made flexibility a priority and a success with your career? How has flexibility made your career more sustainable?
Beth Dickstein: After 24 years of working flexibly, I think I offer a unique perspective. I’ve been with Sidley Austin for 27 years, and I started on a flex schedule as a third year associate when my son was born – that was 24 years ago! I was at a 70 percent schedule, then moved to 80 percent, and now am at a 90 percent reduced hours schedule. I still come in every day, and there are times when I work from home. Looking back, it’s amazing how much flexibility has changed over two decades.
When I first contemplated working flexibly, there weren’t many women partners, and there were even less working “part-time.” There was one partner in the Tax group who worked one day from home, and it seemed to be working. I took that as a positive sign both personally and from the firm’s perspective. I wanted my Fridays completely off so I could use it to volunteer in my kids’ classrooms. (I also have a daughter who is now 22). In 1993/1994, the technology we have today that facilitates flexibility and telecommuting wasn’t there (or was just starting) – there was no internet, email, cell phones, etc. So when I was off on Fridays, I was off.
Sidley has always advocated for the success of women and flexibility. This type of support made my Fridays at home work. Because the technology wasn’t in place yet, I gave clients my home number and told them to call it if they ever needed to reach me. This simple gesture showed my commitment, and I appreciated their support of the work arrangement. I rarely received a call at home, but I know clients still appreciated the gesture nonetheless. I always felt I was fully backed by the clients, the firm, and the partners I worked with – as long as my work was getting done (and done well) they had no issues. I was able to work, be a mom, and participate in my kids’ activities without the guilt from either side.
As we prepare for the upcoming Flex Success™ Leadership Institute, we will be featuring the industry experts who will guide participants from high potential to high performance.
This week, we are pleased to feature Tasneem Goodman, Managing Director at Akina Corporation. Tasneem will review the essential fundamentals of business development and assist participants in developing business development frameworks that are as effective and efficient as possible.
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The Alliance’s Action Steps are designed to assist organizations with implementing practical strategies and policies related to diversity and flexibility. Members can access full versions of all of the Alliance’s Action Steps in the Member Resource Center.
APPRECIATING YOUR FLEX PROGRAM
Lawyers are taught to apply critical inquiry to solve clients’ problems. While this approach is useful to spot issues, applying a model that allows for analysis of strengths is equally important when working on a change initiative like promoting holistic flexibility in the workplace. The field of organizational development offers such a model in appreciative inquiry…
As we prepare for the upcoming Flex Success™ Leadership Institute, we will be featuring the industry experts who will guide participants from high potential to high performance.
This week, we are pleased to feature Verna Myers, Founder and President of the Verna Myers Company. Verna will guide participants in developing effective tactics that can be used to interrupt bias, with a special emphasis on recognizing and overcoming the stigma attorneys working flexible schedules face. Read more
The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance’s Flex Leader Exchange (FLEx) is a quarterly, roundtable-style teleconference series for diversity and talent development professionals at Alliance member organizations.
Join us on September 23 for this quarter’s call to discuss celebrating successes to generate support for your organization’s flexibility program. In addition, the Alliance will hold its quarterly Office Hours to discuss questions related to its upcoming Flex Success™ Award nomination and selection process.
September 2015
Featuring – Kit Chaskin, Partner and Global Director of the Women’s Initiative Network, Reed Smith and Sally Olson, Chief Diversity Officer, Sidley Austin
Are your women’s initiatives waning? Are the majority of your regrettable losses female attorneys? Good intentions don’t always equal positive results, but action is needed. Kit and Sally will discuss their firms’ successes with creating women’s initiatives with IMPACT! Manar Morales of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance will also discuss best practices with leading change through your initiatives. Learn how to overcome the organizational challenges when creating and sustaining a successful women’s initiative and retain your top talent!