Working with the business: challenges and the power of appraisals
Working with the business: challenges and the power of appraisals
In-house legal teams are integral to the success of their organisations. But for them to be truly effective, they need to work closely with business leaders and teams to align their efforts with broader business goals. We understand that now more than ever, the role of an in-house legal team spans far further than providing legal guidance, and instead teams are often required to steer their businesses through turbulent and sometimes unprecedented territory.
Despite their hard work, many legal professionals feel their contributions are often overlooked and undervalued. This sentiment has been echoed by a number of Crafty Counsel Community members, who reflect on their own experiences and discuss actionable ways to build better relationships with the business.
Why does legal not get the credit?
In-house lawyers seek – and deserve – acknowledgment, not only through praise but also by being involved early in business discussions, giving them the chance to position their work as key to success.
“It feels like being valued and being a real partner to the business. It's being invited into the room at the right time, before problems arise. It also looks like public acknowledgment, like being praised in all-hands meetings for contributing to big wins, and people recognising the distress legal has averted."
- Charlotte Philips, General Counsel at Anthesis, shared what credit looks like to her at Crafty Fest.
For many, lack of credit ties back to a deeper issue of belonging. Transitioning from private practice to an in-house role is often motivated by a desire to be part of the business, yet many feel the lack of recognition holds them back from truly fitting in.
Legal teams also frequently find themselves stereotyped as a blocker, not an enabler. They find that this preconception can overshadow their success in driving business opportunities and resolving issues proactively.
How in-house legal teams can prove their value
Establishing a value proposition
Some legal teams are now moving to a model of setting out a clear value proposition, that sets out exactly what the legal function is there to do and why.
The content of this will inevitably vary from business to business – in some cases it might emphasise improvements to process and technology, in others, deal support and strategic advice, and so on. But the bottom line is: clear articulation and a shared vision is helpful to all parties.
Leisa Turner, General Counsel at Eurasia, shared how she did just this for her business in the mining services industry at Crafty Fest. "Our value proposition let the business know how we were going to help them achieve their goals. This involved making sure the legal team understood how they could engage with the business as partners, not just enforcers. We then implemented risk management processes collaboratively with other departments, turning them into business processes rather than legal checks. This made the business run more efficiently."
Annual appraisals and feedback
Annual appraisals shouldn’t be overlooked. Some legal teams have run with this concept to demonstrate how their work supports the overall business strategy and get credit where it’s due. They may ask for an appraisal from the wider business, which can assess their work against the value proposition, or another set of shared goals for legal.
By implementing KPIs, legal teams can quantify their performance in language that’s familiar to business leaders – clearly and persuasively highlighting how they contribute to the company's success.
KPIs also give lawyers a chance to develop within the business and find clear ways to transfer their skills to the industry they’re in. In the ‘intergenerational’ session at Crafty Fest, which involved discussion about working with people of different ages and levels of seniority, the panel highlighted that reassurance and positive feedback are just as important as constructive feedback.
The importance of communication and balance
Feedback from leaders in our community reveals that while legal teams strive to be helpful and approachable, they’re often asked to solve problems outside their remit. This impacts work-life balance and at times even leads to burnout. Many in-house lawyers are on a journey to learning when to say no and keep resilience, so they can stay focused on their core responsibilities.
Effective communication is key for legal teams to get recognition and integrate seamlessly into the business. As well as highlighting their achievements, it’s important for them to set boundaries to prevent them becoming overwhelmed with non-legal issues.
Leisa Turner reminds us of the importance of listening to colleagues while staying true to yourself, “If you win over hearts and minds, if you take the time to listen, to understand, then you will get where you want to go. Build relationships and create goodwill. Get people on side, engage with them. Understanding people is as important as understanding the business. Listen to other people’s contributions and value them. As you build your brand, as you add value, people will adjust their misconceptions. Just remind yourself of the value you bring to the role. You deserve to be in the room and they're lucky to have you.”
