Download - Making Sure the Tool Isn't You: Train Your Brain to Use Technology (So That Neither Uses You)
Making Sure the Tool Isn’t You:
Train Your Brain to Use Technology (SoThat Neither Uses You)
Overview
• Attorneys as Knowledge Workers
• The Importance and Fragility of Attention
• Some Ways to Limit Attention-SappingDistractions
• Ways to Harness Computer Power So YouCan Pay Attention to the Important Stuff
You Are a Knowledge Worker
• You Manage information
– Collect, organize, store
– Protect
• keep it confidential (Rule 1.6, RPC)
• keep it safe (Rule 1.15, RPC)
– Review
– Share/Communicate
– Retain/Destroy
• Apply knowledge to information to provide solutions
Attention is Your Fuel
Your Attention is Finite
• Decisions
• Distractions
Your Attention is Fallible
Never attribute to malice what can adequatelybe explained by stupidity. - Hanlon's Razor
More on Fallibility
• The Gorilla Experiment
• “Everyone Who Drives Faster Than I do isa Maniac, Everyone who Drives Slowerthan I do is a Moron.” – George Carlin
• Notice when your cognitive shortcuts cutout too much
What Fuels/Preserves Attention?
• Fewer Decisions
• Fewer Distractions
• Sustained Focus/Awareness
Don’t Be the Product“The Real Problem of humanity is the following: wehave Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions, andgod-like technology.” – E.O. Wilson
.
Paradox: You Have to Ignore Technologyto Plan How to Use It
• Technology is a Distraction, especially when you haven'tfigured out how to use it
• Lawyers Require Sustained Attention-– Minimize Your Beeps and Notifications (and your Interruptions
and Meetings)
– Guard Your Attention Jealously
• It’s Not What You Read, It’s What You Ignore
Why Are Computer Tools So Useful?
• External Memory (Storage and Organization)
• More Connections (Marketing, InformationSharing)
• Communication and Publishing (Automation,Collaboration)
Is Computer TechnologyAlways The Best Tool?
Use Your Computer Tools
• What Can You Automate (The RepetitiveStuff) So You Can Do the Important Stuff?
• What Can You Communicate/Share?
• How Can You Organize Your InformationKnowledge?
Lessons From The Checklist Manifesto• Why Use Your Head as a Storage Device?
• "Either I have a pen nearby, or it really wasn't that funny." – MitchHedberg
• Document a Process Well One Time, Never Have to Document itAgain (Repurpose)
• Benefits:
– Delegates (Efficiency)
– Reduces Mistakes (Effectiveness, Efficiency)
– Promotes and standardizes best practices (Process Improvement)
– Stays with the organization (Knowledge Management)
– Encourages revision and improvement (Productivity)
– Capable of application in other areas (Innovation)
– Rewards input (Collaboration)
• Accepting coaching and criticism
Practical Tips To Get You Started• Any office task you do repeatedly will improve with computer technology
(Automation, Repetition)
• Take Ownership of Your Tools– Any “How do I do this?” question can be answered by you. Not by IT, not by anyone else.
• Before seeking (human) assistance, put your question/issue/problem in quotations and paste itinto The Google.
• If you asked it, someone else wants to know the answer, too.
• When in doubt, right click and undo.
• Study and Practice the Art of Finding (Be Your Own Librarian)
– Use the search and find functions in all programs.
– Name and organize documents according to a plan (so you can find them)• Tag and Label
• Sort and filter
• Before closing a matter, “harvest” all information andknowledge that you may use again, and store where you can findthem.
Practical Tips For Popular Programs
• Microsoft Word
– Use Styles for numbering any multilevel list.
– Use Templates, and Automatic Tables of Contents and Authorities in Briefs
– Hyperlink and cross-reference in contracts.
– Use QuickParts and AutoText
• Microsoft Outlook
– Use Folders
– Create Rules
– Sort, Search, and Flag
• PDFs
– Create using a print driver and make them searchable.
– Bookmark
– Extract Pages
– Reduce File Size
– Batch Operations/Actions to Multiple Files
– Bate stamp electronically.
Giving Your Time Gives YouMore Time
• Be Generous of Your Time and Your Knowledge- WithoutExpecting Anything in Return
• If You Are Taking Care of Yourself, You Will Take Careof Others
• Build Empathy and Practice Gratitude
• Get Out and Play -http://pringlepracticeblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/in-celebration-of-play.html
Conclusion
Which is smarter at chess – humans or computers?
Neither.
It’s the two together, working side by side.
- Clive Thompson, “Smarter Than You Think”
Questions?Jack PringleAdams and Reese LLP(803) 343-1270
[email protected]@jjpringleschttp://pringlepracticeblog.blogspot.com
1501 Main Street, 5th FloorColumbia, SC 29201www.adamsandreese.com
Resources• Baba Shiv, How Do You Find Breakthrough Ideas?, Stanford Graduate
School of Business, http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/baba-shiv-how-do-you-find-breakthrough-ideas
• The Resilient Lawyer http://theanxiouslawyer.com/rl-23-jack-pringle/
• Learning the Lessons of John Henry https://medium.com/the-counselor-chronicles/learning-the-lessons-of-john-henry-7de7f4c2b130#.iwu05e3fr
• How Many of Your Daily Tasks Could be Automated?https://hbr.org/2015/12/how-many-of-your-daily-tasks-could-be-automated
• Automation Potential and Wages for U.S. Jobshttps://public.tableau.com/profile/mckinsey.analytics#!/vizhome/AutomationandUSjobs/Technicalpotentialforautomation
More Resources
The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, by Atul Gawande
http://www.amazon.com/Checklist-Manifesto-How-Things-Right/dp/0312430000
Smarter Than You Think: How Technology is Changing Our Minds for the Better,by Clive Thompson
http://www.amazon.com/Smarter-Than-You-Think-Technology/dp/1594204454
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D
http://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Success-Carol-Dweck/dp/0345472322
Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success, by Adam Grant
http://www.amazon.com/Give-Take-Helping-Others-Success/dp/0143124986
Resources - Tools
Basecamp https://basecamp.com/
Camtasia http://www.camtasiastudiosoftware.com/
Evernote www.evernote.com
Freedom www.macfreedom.com
LeechBlock http://www.proginosko.com/leechblock.html
Mindmeister www.mindmeister.com
Ommwriter www.ommwriter.com
TheForm Tool www.theformtool.com
WikiSpaces www.wikispaces.com
Resources- Websites
ABA Law Technology ResourceCenter http://www.americanbar.org/groups/departments_offices/legal_technology_resources.html
Attorney at Work http://www.attorneyatwork.com/
Clio http://www.goclio.com/
Law Office Guru http://legalofficeguru.com/
Law Practice Matters http://www.lawpracticematters.com/
Lawyerist http://lawyerist.com/
Legal Ease http://legalease.blogs.com/
Legal Productivity http://www.legalproductivity.com/
MyCase http://www.mycase.com/blog/
MyShingle http://myshingle.com/
Paperless Chase http://www.paperlesschase.com/
SC Bar PMAP http://www.scbar.org/MemberResources/PracticeManagementPMAP.aspx
Technolawyer http://www.technolawyer.com/