The
benefits
of
establishing
trust
and
building
influence
should
be
of
paramount
importance
for
any
general
counsel
especially
during
times
of
great
change.
Successfully
implementing
change
can
be
a
challenging
process.
Why
is
influence
important
in
the
change
management
process?
Change
often
meets
resistance
from
employees
who
are
comfortable
with
the
status
quo.
Influential
leaders
can
persuade
and
motivate
those
employees
to
embrace
the
change
by
first
explaining
the
benefits
of
change
and
addressing
concerns.
GCs
who
take
the
time
and
effort
to
establish
trust
and
build
influence
within
their
organizations
can
be
uniquely
positioned
to
support
the
executive
leadership
during
the
change
management
process.
The
GC
Can
Help
Build
Support
Influence
helps
garner
support
from
key
stakeholders,
including
senior
leaders,
middle
managers,
and
front-line
employees.
When
the
GC
supports
the
change,
others
in
the
organization
may
be
more
likely
to
follow
suit.
The
GC
Can
Help
Communicate
As
a
lawyer,
the
GC
is
trained
in
the
art
of
persuasion
and
is
often
a
skilled
communicator.
The
GC
can
convey
the
vision
and
objectives
of
the
change
initiative
clearly
and
persuasively,
ensuring
that
everyone
understands
the
rationale
behind
it.
The
GC
can
also
effectively
convey
the
benefits
of
change
to
employees
by
highlighting
how
it
will
streamline
processes,
improve
outcomes,
and
ensure
compliance.
The
GC
Can
Inspire
Trust
And
Credibility
Influence
is
closely
tried
to
trust
and
credibility.
GCs
who
inspire
trust
and
credibility
are
ones
who
are
open
and
honest
when
communicating
(to
the
extent
possible).
They
create
channels
for
employees
to
ask
questions
or
seek
clarification
on
legal
issues.
They
address
concerns
promptly
and
clearly,
even
if
it
means
admitting
they
don’t
have
all
the
answers.
GCs
who
are
trusted
and
credible
may
be
helpful
in
gaining
buy-in
from
employees
during
times
of
change.
The
GC
Can
Facilitate
Collaboration
Change
often
requires
negotiation
and
collaboration
with
various
departments
and
teams
within
an
organization.
Because
the
GC
is
often
involved
in
facilitating
discussions
on
a
day-to-day
basis,
the
GC
is
naturally
suited
for
this
role.
When
discussions
become
difficult,
the
GC
can
help
bridge
gaps
and
build
consensus
across
the
organization
during
times
of
change.
The
GC
Can
Help
Mitigate
Fear
And
Uncertainty
Change
often
brings
about
fear
and
uncertainty.
GCs
who
lead
by
example
and
promote
a
culture
of
ethical
behavior
throughout
the
organization
are
uniquely
positioned
to
help
alleviate
the
concerns
that
may
come
with
change.
When
employees
trust
that
the
GC
is
committed
to
ensuring
that
the
organization’s
leadership
is
acting
ethically
and
in
the
best
interest
of
the
organization
and
its
constituents,
the
GC
can
help
reduce
fear
and
uncertainty
of
everyone
involved
in
the
process.
So
…
Influence
is
a
critical
tool
for
leaders
when
implementing
changes
within
an
organization.
It
enables
them
to
guide,
persuade,
and
inspire
people
to
embrace
and
support
the
change,
ultimately
leading
to
successful
outcomes
and
long-term
organizational
growth.
Influence
is
not
just
about
starting
the
change
process.
It
is
also
about
sustaining
momentum.
Influential
leaders,
including
the
GC,
can
keep
employees
engaged
and
committed
throughout
the
entire
change
journey.
Leveraging
your
online
presence
to
create
influence
is
a
great
way
to
do
this,
and
it
involves
building
a
strong
and
authentic
personal
brand,
engaging
with
your
audience,
and
strategically
using
various
platforms
to
reach
and
impact
your
target
audience.
For
many
lawyers,
LinkedIn
has
become
the
platform
of
choice.
For
more
on
how
to
build
influence
inside
and
outside
of
your
organization
with
a
prominent
LinkedIn
profile,
click
here
to
join
me
on
October
5,
2023,
for
Exigent
GC
Forum’s
webinar.
Lisa
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).