Stay in your lane...

"Just tell me what the law says."

I can't tell you how many times I've heard this over my career. And every time I hear it said, I wonder why there is an assumption or an expectation that lawyers should just stick to the law. Sure, it's what we spent many years studying at university and its the reason we are in the jobs we are in. But is it all we can bring to the table?

Over the past many years, there has been much debate about "diversity of thought", the idea that the way we think is shaped by our culture, our background, our gender and our experiences, and that increased diversity of thought can lead to more innovation and better decision-making and business outcomes.

But diversity of thought is also about the way we think - the way we gather, analyse and process information; whether we are intuitive in our thinking or deeply analytical; and how we make decisions. As law students, we are taught to think with care, to be precise, to pay attention to words and the different ways they can be interpreted. We are also taught to look for risk, to play devil's advocate, to look for the counter-arguments - the "what-if's".

None of this training, or later practical application, makes this way of thinking better than any other - it just makes it different.

Indeed, sometimes, these analytical skills can be over-used and result in "analysis-paralysis" or even risk-aversion. It is therefore important that we explain our reasoning to our colleagues, that they question us on our decision-making and assessment of risk, that we allow them to bring their own way of thinking to the table and that we listen with respect and an open mind, willing to truly hear them and question our own decisions.

Regardless of what job we are in, I believe we should all ask questions, seek context and offer opinions. Lawyers shouldn't just stick to the law and equally accountants shouldn't just stick to numbers and marketers to branding.

After all, we are also not just lawyers, accountants or marketers. We are also consumers of products, services, media and news. We may also come from different cultural or racial backgrounds or have had different experiences because of our gender or sexual orientation. Gathering these diverse ways of thinking may lead to conflict, but provided that conflict is managed effectively, can bring fresh perspective and lead to new ideas and better decisions.

It's time we stop thinking of people as being defined by their job titles.

That we invite others to join us in our lane.