As the father of a 4-year-old boy, the holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year. We already have our holiday lights up outside of our house because Parker enjoys them so much.
The holidays also make me realize how thankful I am to be president of the Jacksonville Bar Association.
The midpoint of my term is an ideal time to step back and reflect on the journey to leading in this role. The focus of this article is gratitude, which I wholeheartedly believe is a cornerstone of effective leadership.
Gratitude is not merely about feeling thankful. It is a practice that can shape perspective, bolster resilience and enhance impact as a leader.
This reflection is not only a moment of personal growth but also a chance to deepen connection to our local legal community and its mission.
My decade and a half in leadership of the JBA has been mostly deeply rewarding, but also challenging at times. The demands are high and the responsibilities are vast, but through this experience, I have encountered valuable opportunities to learn, collaborate and give back to my peers and the broader community.
One of the most powerful sources of gratitude in leadership is recognizing the collaborative nature of my role. While it may feel at times like I am the pretty face of the JBA, the reality is that my success—and the association’s success—is built upon a web of support from dedicated committee members, board members and staff.
I thank the board of governors, a group of dedicated volunteers that works tirelessly for the benefit of the membership and simply does not say no to ideas to improve our organization. Brian Coughlin is president-elect and is an absolute rock of wisdom and speaking up on what he thinks is right no matter if it is popular or not.
Asghar Syed is our “Sonic the Hedgehog” this year and his energy is infectious. He has organized and moderated the most successful CLE that I can remember for the JBA, restructured how we think about our finances as treasurer and is leading a potential re-branding of JBA.
Our secretary, Adina Pollan, is the source of infinite ideas of how we can improve outreach to membership.
The Young Lawyers’ Section President Kayla Herrin is perhaps the hardest working of anyone as leaders of “The Workhorses of the JBA.”
I could go on and on and on in regards to the Board’s selfless level of volunteerism.
The local judiciary is critical to the success of the JBA. Chief Judge of the 4th Judicial Circuit Lance Day and I have had meaningful conversations in my first few months as president and we appreciate his willingness to tackle any challenge, no matter how difficult or seemingly trivial.
The federal judiciary is also always open to assisting the JBA in programming or otherwise supporting our organization.
I also need to thank the membership as the board and I have received so many great ideas from our members, in addition to other voluntary Bar leaders.
I am far from perfect as leader of the JBA, but I am 100% dedicated to being open to criticism and suggestions. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any ideas.
The holidays provide an ideal time to reflect on these aspects of my presidency and to re-energize for the work ahead. By practicing gratitude in these ways, I can continue to lead with clarity, compassion and vision, ensuring that the JBA remains a vital force within the legal and broader Jacksonville community. It is my absolute honor to serve as your president. Happy holidays!
Christian George is managing partner in Akerman’s Jacksonville office.