president’s message By Benny Agosto, Jr. Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Aziz
What Defines a Leader?
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any books and articles have been written about leadership. We have studied leaders of the past and attempted to learn from their mistakes and their accomplishments, in order to make us better leaders and successful members of our
for women lawyers, young lawyers, and even for the seasoned lawyers. Please watch for those announcements and don’t forget to sign up to attend. I want to close with my attempt to answer the question posed above: What does it take to lead well? community. For many years I have tried to answer this question. I As I continue to work as president of the Houston Bar Ashave developed my answer with an acronym—PWCP. sociation, I strive to become the leader that P-Plan: You must plan to succeed. If one is the bar needs at this time. We are improvto become a leader, one must plan the steps I believe ing many aspects of what we do and how very carefully. Remember that as a leader the Houston we communicate with each other, from people will follow you, so be prepared to communications with the State Bar, to our lead. Bar Association ancillary organizations, to our partners and W-Work Hard: No one will ever complain funders that allow us to do the great work that you are working too hard. To become has a special the HBA does on a day-to-day basis. a true leader will take hard work. Howevopportunity to However, I am driven by the fact that we er, as you work hard, make sure nothing is must not rest on our laurels, but strive to left behind in your sometimes lonely road create leaders ever improve in the work that we do. As the as a leader. Always remember to take care 150th anniversary of the Houston Bar Asof your office life, family life, and personal to allow us sociation draws near, I am reminded of the life. to move early leaders of our organization and wonC-Commit: To become a successful leader, der what lessons we can learn from them. one must be committed. An uncommitted forward into leader will certainly fail, but a committed leader will find a way to meet and accomHow do we define leader? greater Is it the person in front, or the person servplish the goals they have set. heights. ing as the lead, one who takes charge of a P-Pray: With all the hustle and bustle of particular group? Leadership can be a title, everyday life, sometimes wellness gets put at a position, or it can be seen in one’s work and effort. the back of the line. As a leader, you must learn to make I believe the Houston Bar Association has a special optime to sit down and pray or meditate in the matters that portunity to create leaders to allow us to move forward into are greater than the work we are doing. I believe in the greater heights. This year, one of my pillars as president has power of prayer, so I close by reminding you to not only been building leaders. take care of your business life and family life, but also We are accomplishing this by revamping the HBA Amyour personal and spiritual life. In the end, your turn as a bassador program. The Ambassadors, a great example of the leader, and life in general, will be more enjoyable. success of our HBA young lawyers, are poised to present Strength of character and endurance are essential ingrefour distinct programs on leadership. These programs will dients to making great leaders. Most of us have more fortieducate, and hopefully motivate, young lawyers to excel in their profession, but also to challenge them to become leadtude than we realize. Bring it to the surface by writing down ers at their firms and in our community. your goals, facing your fears and obstacles, and setting forth Through our education department, we have planned to do things you have never done before. Become a leader, programs for leadership training at various CLE programs and lead well.
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The Houston Lawyer
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6
September/October 2019
thehoustonlawyer.com
