Thought Leadership: Thinking Ahead to Show the Way
All in all, we are witnessing the need for lawyers to broaden their skill set. Not only must they maintain their legal expertise, they also have to sharpen their strategic and business thinking as well as understand and integrate the valuable lessons from their emotional and social intelligence.
In one word, they have to become great leaders!It will not suffice to help clients implement solutions and take on the role of project manager. We must think ahead, engage with the client's team, share knowledge and support the client's growth, because their success is ours too. Leaders mentor—they instill values and develop strategic thinking in the people they work with. Lawyers must become part of a trusted think-tank to which clients can turn for reliable and valuable insight. Achieving this is no small feat.
In order to build a solid reputation, lawyers must consistently meet their targets and long term goals. Becoming a leader is also about knowing your collaborators' strengths and weaknesses, not being blindsided, being consistent and even- tempered in every decision and interaction, and being trustworthy and likable. On top of this, lawyers should never avoid speaking the hard truths or listening to them; candid and frank conversations are part of the process. Listening to clients' needs and aspirations is fundamental—and such listening, in turn, will require an individualized and appropriate answer. This will help develop a better leader within the lawyer.
A good leader will always think ahead. What will come next? What will be my clients' needs in the future? What will be the appropriate legal service to address those future needs? Lawyers need to be creative and innovative, and to be a thought leader they need vision. Clients will not be successful without envisaging future market trends and planning accordingly, nor will their lawyers. This two-step process requires, firstly, careful observation and strategic thinking, and secondly, diligent planning and realization. Food for thought will emerge out of a trustful client-lawyer relationship.
Above all, we must give a strong and positive impression, nourished by a thoughtful attitude and strategic thinking, always aiming to stay at the top of the game. It may not be easy, but it is what it takes to be seen as a trusted, respected and valuable resource for our clients and to secure the top position lawyers held in the past as trusted advisors.
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