The Joy Of Removing Obstacles

As an in-house lawyer, helping business leaders identify and remove obstacles that get in the way of business growth can be a source to tremendous satisfaction.

Risk ConfusionOver the course of my career, I have done many things. Of those things that I have done, I have enjoyed most being an in-house lawyer. What is it about being an in-house lawyer that I have enjoyed most? I have enjoyed helping business leaders identify and remove obstacles that get in the way of business growth. What have I learned when it comes to identifying and removing obstacles?

I have found that in-house lawyers who are most successful at identifying and removing obstacles:

  • have the ability to become a subject matter expert quickly,
  • have the ability to work independently,
  • have the ability to make sense out of chaos, and
  • have the ability to manage complex projects.

I have also found that in-house lawyers are most effective when they:

  • understand the vision, mission, and goals of the organization;
  • develop and nurture open lines of communication with people in the various units across the organization;
  • learn what the people in various units across the organization do; and
  • establish trust and rapport with those people in the various units across the organization.

Over the years, I have received plenty of really good advice about identifying and removing obstacles from those leaders with whom I have worked. As it turns out, many of my colleagues have heard some of the same things.

What Have We Heard?

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Deal with obstacles strategically. When dealing with an obstacle, I have been reminded of the importance of not dealing with an obstacle merely as an item to be crossed off a list. I have been reminded that it is important to deal with the problem strategically. The goal is not just to temporarily remove a obstacle from your view. The goal should be to identify the root issue causing the obstacle and to address it in a way that eliminates the obstacle from returning.

Understand that problems rarely get easier to solve with time. Problems do not get better with age. They only get worse with age. Addressing the problem when the problem first surfaces can be more efficient and better for everyone involved in the end.

Remember that not all problems are yours to solve. As a lawyer, I am wired to solve problems, but what I have come to understand is that not all problems are mine to solve. When a colleague comes to me with a problem, I have learned that it is often best to resist the urge to tell that colleague how to solve the problem. What have I learned to do instead? Listen. Your colleagues often have a pretty good sense of what they need to do. They just want someone who can serve as a sounding board for them. What your colleagues often really want is just for someone to listen as they talk through problems. They want and need someone they respect to help reassure them that there is nothing that they are missing and that their approach to their problem is sound.

As education lawyer Laura Anthony recently shared with me, “It is important to discern your role and find the right balance of listening and helping. When we automatically move to problem solving, we can miss an opportunity to connect and support others in finding their own solutions.”

Remember that sometimes slower is faster. While there is a time for action, there is also time for inaction. There are some problems that will resolve themselves in due time with a little patience.

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Vice President and Deputy General Counsel JoAnna Nicholson recently shared with me some advice she once received on this very topic from Gary Steel, a digital marketing manager, that really resonated with me:

“‘Sometimes you need to let a little air get under [the problem].’ Not every problem should be solved immediately — some will solve themselves, and a knee-jerk reaction can actually make it worse.”

General Counsel and Board Member Marlene Eisenberg, took it a step further with this actionable advice: We all have a “pause button” we can use when approaching problems and challenges. There is a magical moment between what we hear and what we say that can make all the difference. By hitting that pause button, we give ourselves the time to assess and calibrate.

When identifying and removing obstacles, it is important to remember that no two obstacles are the same. What you did to overcome one obstacle will not necessarily work when you attempt to overcome another. As time passes, you will gain more and more experience. Your past decision-making experience will inform your future decision-making. This part of the in-house counsel is not one you will ever learn in law school. As Benjamin Franklin so aptly said, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”


Lisa-Lang_241Lisa Lang is an in-house lawyer and thought leader who is passionate about all things in-house.  She has recently launched a website and blog Why This, Not That™ (www.lawyerlisalang.com ) to serve as a resource for in-house lawyers.  You can e-mail her at lisa@lawyerlisalang.com , connect with her on LinkedIn  (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawyerlisalang/) or follow her on Twitter (@lang_lawyer).