"We are often taught as children that kindness begets kindness - and that it costs nothing. I was recently reminded of this timeless lesson during the Women, Influence, and Power in Law conference. On the first morning, I was in Starbucks, desperately craving my much-needed latte. A woman entered, placed her order, and then stood next to me while waiting. I recognized her as someone who had spoken on a panel the previous year. Her wit, humor, and practical advice had left a lasting impression on me, and I remembered her well."
"As an introvert, networking doesn't always come naturally to me, and I hesitated over whether to speak. But I decided to overcome my shyness. Turning to her, I honestly choked out, "Excuse me, you were a panelist last year, right? Your presentation was fantastic." Her face lit up with a genuine smile, and she thanked me. That small moment sparked a simple conversation as we walked to the conference together. I learned she was presenting again this year and that she had recently started a new job. I shared briefly about my own practice and my hopes for the conference."
"Later, I attended her presentation, and she knocked it out of the park. At the start, she mentioned that someone had praised her for her previous presentation that morning - words that boosted her confidence and energized her for her own performance. That acknowledgment, coming from a stranger over coffee, had made a real difference in her demeanor and motivation."
An attendee at a law conference recognized a previously heard panelist in a Starbucks line and offered sincere praise for the earlier presentation. The brief compliment opened a conversation that revealed the panelist was presenting again and had recently started a new job. The panelist later noted that the morning praise boosted her confidence and energized her presentation. The encounter shows that small acts of kindness and concise recognition cost little but can positively affect confidence, performance, and networking outcomes. Jeanine M. Donohue is a member of Buchalter's Litigation Practice Group and Wineries, Vineyards and Breweries Practice Group, practicing in St. Helena and San Francisco with over 30 years' experience.
Read at Above the Law
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