How You Show Up In The Room Matters More Than You Think
By Lisa Lang for Above the Law
As in-house lawyers, we are often called in when there are problems to solve and challenges to overcome. The phone rings. The meeting invite goes out. Something has gone sideways, and leadership needs everyone (including the in-house lawyer) at the table.
When you walk into that room, how and when you speak can be as important as the words you speak. I have learned this the hard way and watched others learn it too.
The instinct is to demonstrate value immediately — to prove you belong there, to show you understand the gravity of the situation, to fill the silence with analysis — but that instinct can work against you.
What are some things to keep in mind?
Your Legal Perspective Is Not The Only Perspective That Matters
This is hard for lawyers to accept. We are trained to spot issues, flag risks, and protect the organization. That is our job, but in a room full of people trying to solve a problem, legal risk is one consideration among many. There are operational realities, financial constraints, reputational concerns, and human factors that may not show up in a legal memo.
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