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Huh? Shouldn’t we all strive to be polite, respectful, and patient?
People often tell me that I would make a great kindergarten teacher because I’m “really nice.” I’ve always viewed this as a compliment, that it means I’m pleasant and easy-going. Furthermore, it’s no secret that I’m a doting aunt who adores my nieces and is fluent in toddler speak.
But the thing is, I’m not a kindergarten teacher. I’m a lawyer. And the more I heard comments like this, the more I wondered if I was in the wrong profession. I also began to worry that my personality was a liability and that to be an effective lawyer who my peers respected, I needed to be more of an a-hole.
On a side note, I find it amusing that some people think that only kindergarten teachers need to be polite, respectful, and patient. Shouldn’t we all strive to possess more of these qualities?
Anyway, as a petite woman and a minority, I felt a subconscious need to overcompensate for any stereotypes that I might be seen as weak or timid. Consequently, early in my career, I imitated the most successful attorneys in my firm and the badass lawyers I saw on TV. I…
