If you ask a question be prepared for the answer.

I often tell my team not to ask a question unless you can deal with the answer.

Don’t ask an opponent or the other sides witness a question unless you can handle it. If you are cross examining a witness, don’t ask them if they are sure about a date or a fact, unless you can then move on to prove them wrong.

This is a philosophy that can be applied in all walks of life.

Don’t ask a small child if they need the toilet if you are not near the bathroom.

Don’t ask the ref if he’s blind unless you can afford to get booked (or are an optician).

And definitely definitely don’t approach complete strangers on LinkedIn to boast about your services unless you can handle the replies.

A recent, unsolicited salesman sent me the following (redacted) message:

Hi Stephanie

I saw you’re a law firm partner & lead a team.

Xxxx, MD at xxxxxxx, grew his law firm’s profit from £200k to £1M in 3 years & cut his working hours in half in 1 year by following my PROFIT system.

Are you interested in getting similar results?

To which I responded:

I’m way ahead of xxxxx. Would he like any pointers from me. Sure I can get him to twice that!

Strangely he hasn’t replied to take me up on my offer!

In my opinion, get your facts sorted first. Whether you are talking to children, (potential) clients, opponents or judges, think through all the options and be careful how you phrase things. Or it may be more than a bit of poo you have to deal with!

Kleyman & Co Solicitors. The full service law firm. So you don’t have to get your hands dirty!