Be 'more strategic'. What does that even mean?

You’re working hard, learning loads and yet you don’t seem to be breaking through to the next level??

Maybe, you’ve bravely initiated a conversation with your manager about how you could do better (good for you!).? It can be tricky to go from technical legal expert to trusted adviser or to legal manager and leader.? Sometimes, the special sauce is seen as a ‘strategic mindset’.??

Most of us have been told that we need to ‘BE MORE STRATEGIC’ at some point.? Huh?? What does that even mean?

Luckily, another lesson we learnt the hard way! Here’s our HIGH FIVE on how to BE MORE STRATEGIC:

1. REASSESS

• REASSESS the comment: do you agree?? Was the feedback clear and meant with good intentions?? Do you need to clarify with the person who gave you the feedback?? Do you have a good friend at work who doesn’t sugar-coat things to ask???
• REASSESS yourself, and what you want. If the comment was intended to be helpful, then the question for you is “do you want to be more strategic?”.? Some of us don’t - we just want to do a good job, get paid, and go home.? Or, some of us really want to dive into the details of deep technical expertise in a particular area.? Or maybe, you’re someone who wants to be strategic, but just not in your current job or company.? But if you want to move forward where you are right now and you are getting this feedback, it’s a sign that you may not be prioritising the right things.

2. READ, READ, READ, to understand the business

The more you know about the company and where it is headed, the better you can do your job and the better you will come across.? There is a mine of information on most company’s websites.? Read it!? If something doesn’t make sense, make a coffee date with a colleague who can explain it to you easily.? Take an interest in those business plans and presentations that come to you for legal review – actually read them!??

A strategic in-house lawyer will know the company’s products, services, customers, competitors and current business objectives.? You should also make an effort to understand the company’s short and long term strategic plans, as well as following the legal, business and political trends that will impact your company’s business.? Follow the big cases, try to understand new laws and their potential impact on your industry and your company’s business.? If you work for a public company then join the quarterly financial results presentations, and actually listen.? You will definitely learn something.?

3. REVIEW your priorities

The gigantic career-long battle for all lawyers is not to give priority to the thing that has defined itself as the most urgent. Take a good look at your to-do list and work out if there are interesting, complicated bits of work that aren’t getting enough attention because of smaller, lower value or lower risk matters.? If there are, can you restrict the time spent on the smaller matters to a specific number of hours per day only? ? Is there some work that you think you shouldn’t do – either because it’s not really legal work, or because it could be done by someone in the business?? Take this up with your manager or team leader – chances are that others in the team feel the same, and the solution may be to change the whole team’s approach.?

4. REVISE your approach?

Are you asking yourself “how much do I really need to care about this?” about every new thing that comes across your desk?? Really, you should only apply in-depth, detailed review to those items that need it, because (i) risk is not everywhere; and (ii) all matters are not created equal. With smaller matters, light-touch review (declining to enter a big argument about governing law clauses in services agreements, for example) frees up time for more interesting, strategic matters that can have real and lasting impact.

Is there something that you think should be done differently?? Or, is there an opportunity to educate folks in the business so that they can take on more of the simple tasks themselves?? Don’t be afraid to initiate these discussions.? At least, you could get a detailed explanation from your manager about why a particular type or piece of work helps to manage legal risk at your company.? Or, you might kick off a re-assessment of the types and value of work that your entire team does.? Do share your thoughts and insights with your legal team peers and manager – your ideas and solutions could be scaled across the whole legal function if they are good!

5. REACT: ask questions, join the conversation??

Participate actively in discussions and ask questions.? Be that person who will get the Q&A going.? There’s nothing worse than no questions at all when senior people turn to Q&A at the end of a presentation. ? They are usually delighted to get one, especially if it’s short and it seems like the person asking genuinely wants to know!? And the more that you know about the company and the business because of all the reading you’re doing to become more strategic, the more insightful your question will be! ? Engaging properly in this way marks you out as an interested team player, and someone who wants things to go smoothly too.? Just not a long, rambling question when the meeting is already over time, please….

Thanks for reading this HIGH FIVE!? What are your tips on BEING MORE STRATEGIC as an in-house lawyer?? Please share your thoughts with us and our community!