The Joy Of Removing Obstacles

Over 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? Check out the full article on Above the Law.