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.
In
my
experience,
it
helps
to
get
all
the
options
on
the
table
first.
Let
the
business
talk.
Let
the
ideas
flow.
Then
consider
the
legal
implications
and
how
they
impact
risk.
You
will
be
more
effective
(and
more
welcome)
if
you
are
seen
as
someone
who
helps
the
team
think
through
options
rather
than
someone
who
shuts
them
down
before
they
start.
You
Do
Not
Have
To
Be
The
Loudest
Voice
In
The
Room
In
fact,
that
is
not
what
leadership
expects
from
the
in-house
counsel.
Speak
in
low
tones.
Not
animated.
Not
passionate.
Confident.
Start
by
answering
the
question
asked.
Do
not
overexplain.
Less
can
be
more.
You
do
not
need
to
repeat
what
you
have
heard
in
more
detail
just
to
show
you
were
listening.
You
have
nothing
to
prove.
You
are
not
the
smartest
person
in
the
room.
Do
not
act
like
you
are.
I
have
seen
lawyers
lose
credibility
in
seconds
by
talking
too
much,
too
fast,
or
too
forcefully.
The
goal
is
not
to
dominate
the
conversation.
The
goal
is
to
add
value
at
the
right
moment,
in
the
right
way.
Listen
More
Than
You
Speak
This
sounds
simple.
It
is
not.
Listening
means
more
than
waiting
for
your
turn
to
talk.
It
means
reading
the
room.
It
means
watching
for
cues
from
your
audience.
It
means
noticing
when
someone
is
confused,
frustrated,
or
checked
out.
It
means
noticing
when
the
CEO
glares
at
one
of
the
team
members.
And,
it
means
noticing
when
the
energy
shifts.
Give
the
people
in
the
room
time
to
digest
what
you
have
shared.
Give
them
time
to
ask
questions.
Do
not
rush
to
fill
every
silence.
Silence
is
not
a
problem
to
solve.
Sometimes
it
is
where
the
real
thinking
happens.
Stay
Calm
When
Things
Get
Heated
Things
can
get
heated.
Decisions
are
hard.
Stakes
are
high.
People
are
stressed.
You
do
not
have
to
match
that
energy.
Be
the
calm
voice
in
the
room.
Do
not
take
it
personally
when
someone
pushes
back
or
dismisses
your
concern.
Your
job
is
to
provide
perspective,
not
to
win
arguments.
The
moment
you
become
defensive
or
reactive,
you
lose
something
that
is
very
hard
to
get
back.
Trust
Takes
Time
To
Earn
But
Can
Be
Lost
In
An
Instant
This
is
the
part
that
stays
with
me.
If
you
are
invited
into
the
room,
you
are
already
halfway
there.
Someone
decided
your
perspective
matters.
Someone
wants
you
at
the
table.
That
is
not
nothing.
Do
not
blow
it
when
you
get
in
there.
Every
interaction
is
a
deposit
or
a
withdrawal.
Every
time
you
show
up
prepared,
measured,
and
helpful,
you
build
trust.
Every
time
you
grandstand,
overexplain,
or
make
it
about
you,
you
chip
away
at
what
you
have
built.
The
in-house
lawyers
who
earn
lasting
influence
are
not
the
ones
who
talk
the
most
or
know
the
most.
They
are
the
ones
who
show
up
consistently,
read
the
room
accurately,
and
add
value
without
needing
credit.
How
you
show
up
matters.
How
you
listen
matters.
How
you
speak
(and
when)
matters
more
than
you
think.
Lisa
Lang
is
an
accomplished
in-house
lawyer
and
thought
leader
dedicated
to
empowering
fellow
legal
professionals. She
offers
insights
and
resources
tailored
for
in-house
counsel
through
her
website
and
blog,
Why
This,
Not
That™
(www.lawyerlisalang.com).
Lisa
actively
engages
with
the
legal
community
via
LinkedIn,
sharing
her
expertise
and
fostering
meaningful
connections.
You
can
reach
her
at [email protected],
connect
on
LinkedIn
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawyerlisalang/).