Washington Lawyer - June 2020 - 26

FEATURE

JOHN PAYTON'S LEGACY
The D.C. Bar launched the Leadership Academy in 2013 and later
renamed it in honor of the late John Payton, who served as Bar president from 2001 to 2002. Regarded as one of the most influential civil
rights attorneys of his generation, Payton also served as director and
counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. The D.C.
legal community remembers his devotion to training and mentoring
many young lawyers.
Benitez has fond memories of Payton's mentorship early in her career.
"I took my first deposition with John sitting by my side," she remembers.

"I second-chaired the argument in the Supreme Court, sitting by his side,
in the University of Michigan affirmative action cases, which remain one
of the highlights of my career."
Ericka Aiken, counsel at WilmerHale LLP who focuses on investigations and criminal litigation, says she was inspired to apply to the
Leadership Academy after hearing about Payton's legacy. Aiken
believes that to become a good leader, one must learn how to be
a good follower, and that involves seeking great mentors inside and
outside her firm.

LEADERSHIP
in a Time of Crisis
By Laurie Lyte

n challenging times, when people
find themselves having to adapt
quickly to a fast-changing and
uncertain environment, leadership
becomes crucial in one's ability to
thrive. Lawyers are often looked to as
leaders in times of crisis, called upon
to bring their judgment and creativity
to the table.
Key leadership skills include courage,
strength, and the ability to inspire others,
and during periods of change and uncertainty, flexibility and compassion.
When the coronavirus pandemic broke
out early this year, the D.C. Bar's John
Payton Leadership Academy decided
to embrace flexibility by turning the
crisis into an opportunity for lawyers
to strengthen their leadership skills and
build resilience in the face of adversity.
Designed and taught by lawyers for
lawyers, the 2020 Leadership Academy
opened in March with 24 attorneys representing diverse practice areas and workplace settings. The intensive training
program aims to equip participants with
the skills and tools they need to effectively lead in their workplaces and in the
communities they serve. This mission took

26 WASHINGTON LAWYER

JUNE 2020

on greater importance as we adjusted to
remote work and social distancing during
the outbreak.
The academy takes a strengths-based
approach to leadership to bring out the
best in each participant and the class
as a whole. It focuses on both hard and
soft skills that encourage resilience. The
academy incorporates best practices,
with the understanding that we all need
to be prepared to lead from a distance
and encourage others to shine while
strengthening the connections that
bind us.

Key leadership skills include
courage, strength, and the ability
to inspire others, and during
periods of change and uncertainty,
flexibility and compassion.
When this year's academy shifted its first
class online, we understood that we are
going to take this leadership journey in a
different environment and learn together
what the new normal looks like.
During the meet-and-greet webinar, we
drew from personal observations that

touched on recent events to define what
it means to be a leader. We talked about
some of the unexpected bright spots
during the weeks of uncertainty, recognizing and appreciating silver linings
of increased connections with friends,
family, and colleagues despite social distancing, as well as a sense of commitment to serve when legal needs are
expected to rise.
The Leadership Academy has also
decided to apply flexibility in its approach
to the curriculum. In addition to the three
onsite days, the curriculum has been
modified to provide additional distance
learning components leading up to the
in-person classes. This approach enables
participants to learn and practice skills
that are particularly relevant in the new
world we've been thrust into as a result
of the pandemic.
The added distance learning components
will train participants to use their strengths
to operate at their best, manage emotions
in times of crisis, make connections with
others, and build resilience for themselves
and for others around them. In this
distance learning format, we will embrace
flexibility, learn together and support
each other, and grow as a group as we
practice leadership skills in real time
during a crisis.

Laurie Lyte of Lytehouse Solutions LLC is a
lawyer, certified coach, organizational
consultant, and training professional with
experience in both the public and private
sectors. She is a faculty member of the 2020
Leadership Academy.

Washington Lawyer - June 2020

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