Facilitator Guide

Professional Presence: How You Come Across

Facilitator Guide

Professional Presence: How You Come Across

Topic: Professionalism & Communication

What’s covered

Internal and external perceptions
Projecting confidence
Showing engagement and adding value
Building your personal brand
Strengthening relationships

Before the session

Prepare the Attendees

Send the attendees an invitation for the session. Include this link, which has the videos and exercise they’ll need to prepare.

https://www.hotshotlegal.com/discussions/professional-presence-how-you-come-across/attendee

Prepare Yourself

Watch the videos and read the exercise so you’re familiar with the Hotshot material.

Course

Professional Presence: How You Come Across

Explains how day-to-day behavior, communication style, and demeanor shapes colleagues’ and clients’ perception of you. Covers practical ways to project professionalism, confidence, and credibility.
Exercise
PDF

During the session

Part 1: Knowledge Check

Ask attendees these questions to ensure they understand the topic:

What is professional presence? Why is it important?
What are some concrete ways a junior lawyer can add value?
In practical terms, what makes up a lawyer’s “personal brand”?
How does your online or virtual presence affect your professional reputation?
If you make a mistake, what approach best protects your credibility?
What are some simple ways to strengthen relationships at work?

Part 2: Group Exercise

Lead a group discussion based on the exercise. To encourage collaboration, divide the attendees into groups to discuss the exercise, then have a representative from each group summarize their views to the larger group. Call on people to share their thoughts and ask others to respond.

Tip for remote sessions: use your web conferencing system’s breakout room feature to divide people into groups.

Part 3: Firm Specifics

Share your own experiences and guidance, including:

Anecdotes
General practice tips (dos and don’ts)
Firm-specific guidance and practices

After the session

To continue learning, attendees can check out related courses in Hotshot’s Professionalism & Communication topic.

About Hotshot

Hotshot helps lawyers develop their legal, business, and technology skills through short videos, quizzes, and summaries, and we help law firms and law schools plan and deliver engaging training programs. Our customers include Am Law 200 firms, top law schools, and regional and international firms.