COMMENT FOR THE DAY #63 – EPISODE 5

ARBITRATION AND ADVOCACY

Advocacy is about pressure. Lots of pressure. You are a professional with responsibility. The client who is paying your fee is trusting you. The Tribunal will be watching you. Your opponent will be assessing you. Yes – be pleasant, shake hands, engage in small talk but don’t screw up!

I have talked about preparation, organisation, hours done. Today – the issue is being calm under pressure. That pressure can come from the Tribunal with searching questions or from your opponent who is trying to provoke you. Either way, tension does rise and when it does – are you cool or are you aggressive?

Showing calmness under rigorous questioning is a strength. Losing your composure is a weakness. The sap rises within each of us – we are human after all. But watch it – never get subjective, tetchy, rude or provocative. Reasoned argument wins the day – not argument or rhetoric or grandstanding. Get the message?