A Lawyer Advancement “Hot Button” That Should Not Be Ignored

By Lisa Horowitz –

I was recently asked to speak with a group of law firm attorneys about navigating office politics. While I initially balked at the invitation (as dealing with office politics is hardly one of my favorite past-times), I ultimately faced my own demons and facilitated a robust discussion.

All organizations, including (or dare I say, especially) law firms are political. To be successful, law firm attorneys (and even more so, other types of law firm professionals) need to understand and effectively navigate their firm’s political environment. Opting out is not an option.

As a talent management professional, you will undoubtedly be called upon to coach attorneys in your firm to both proactively and defensively navigate office politics. Set forth below are some tips that you may find useful and want to be share with them.

• Forge strong relationships—up, down, and across

When I was growing up, my mother used to say to me: “It’s not what you know but whom you know.” It made me crazy. There I was with my nose to the proverbial grindstone and it wasn’t enough. Despite my objections, the school of hard knocks taught me that my mother was right. Developing supportive, strategic and influential relationships is as, if not more, critical to career success as working hard and doing a good job. To effectively navigate office politics, it is essential for your attorneys to build a strong network of internal and external relationships and alliances with colleagues “up, down and across” whose support and help can get them what they need to succeed: information, opportunities, guidance, mentoring and sponsorship. Building these alliances requires that they create and sustain a reputation as someone who is trustworthy, responsive, respectful and does good work.

• Understand the written and unwritten rules

Information is power. In addition to “whom you know,” there is an oft-overlooked “what.” The “what” your attorneys need to know to successfully navigate office politics includes the written and unwritten rules that govern critical processes and decisions that impact their careers. Unwritten rules often define what is really expected and how to add value: the real evaluation criteria, real criteria for advancement and promotion how many billable hours really need to be worked, what is really billable and what unbillable work is really valued. They may also govern how to really get important assignments, really be assigned to significant client teams, how to really be included on high profile client pitches, and how to really get credit for business development.

• Identify who has power and influence

Understanding who has power and influence in the firm is also essential to being politically savvy. This includes understanding whose support is essential to make partner. An attorney’s supporting relationships (including mentors and sponsors) and network can again be invaluable in this regard.

• Take charge of their career

Having a strategic career plan with a vision and annual SMART goals is invaluable to your attorneys’ professional growth and to their ability to strategically navigate office politics. With a strong vision and specific goals in mind, an attorney can be politically savvy in developing essential relationships, identifying critical written and unwritten rules, and making smart choices.

• Manage conflict effectively

Being politically savvy requires that an attorney pick their battles intelligently. Not all battles are created equal. Knowing their personal end-game as well as who has influence and power will enable the attorney to determine which battles to fight, which landmines to avoid and when to simply keep their head down. And because it is a very small world, being politically savvy means trying to resolve conflict in a way that preserves relationships whenever possible.

• Effectively influence others

To effectively navigate office politics, it is important to be attuned to the needs, concerns and interests of others. Practicing “empathy”—stepping into the shoes of others—and listening actively are essential skills that allow an attorney to identify common interests and mutually beneficial actions that advance their goals and those of others.

• Manage emotions

Finally, your attorneys need to be self-aware and able to self-manage. They need to understand their “hot buttons” and avoid “knee jerk” reactions that can haunt them for a long time.

I am sure that many of you have other helpful tips for navigating office politics. I would love to hear them. Please feel free to contact me at lbhorowitz@gmail.com.

Blog Author

Lisa B. Horowitz, JD, MSOD, is the Founder and Principal Advisor of the Attorney Talent Strategy Group, LLC. Lisa spent almost 30 years as a partner, associate, counsel and senior talent development professional in AMLAW 100 law firms. She currently shares her experiences coaching attorneys on achieving their career goals and advising law firms and legal departments on the design and implementation of strategic talent development solutions. For additional resources, see www.atalentstrategy.com or contact Lisa at lbhorowitz@gmail.com.