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39
W
e live in a political world. Bombarded
by media, whether mainstream,
social or otherwise, it is difficult
to escape politics. People appear to be diametrically
divided along party and philosophical lines. In
national politics, local politics, even office politics,
people line up on different sides and seem only to see
the value of their position.
Politics is an outward expression of our inner
values. Our political culture usually represents how
we believe we can best succeed. When others advocate
for an alternative, it can be difficult to see the merits in
their approach.
Our organizations are led by people with political
perspectives. Different organizations may also differ in
which management culture will position them best for
success. Changes in leadership might, in fact, be due to
a change in culture.
Governance, while not political in and of itself, is
the art of finding effective ways to lead and navigate
the different political factions of an organization.
Effective governance most often will require leadership
to assess the needs and desires of stakeholders. Once
the assessment is complete, these leaders will identify
the best path to achieve the desired results.
Law firms are usually perceived as being
conservative. While many are, other firms are more
progressive or somewhere between the two poles.
How do you identify the dominant culture in
your firm? Does your firm encourage innovation
and free market success to find creative solutions?
B Y L E I G H I S A A C S A N D D O U G S M I T H
Politics of Information
Governance
