P2P

Spring25

Peer to Peer: ILTA's Quarterly Magazine

Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/1533864

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P E E R T O P E E R M A G A Z I N E · S P R I N G 2 0 2 5 19 While asking questions can be uncomfortable or intimidating, most people share the same concerns and will appreciate you bringing them up. Plus, it makes your job more manageable once you have the necessary information. Understanding how change will affect different parts of the firm allows you to anticipate resistance and identify opportunities to address gaps. WHEN THE PLAN SHIFTS, MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT YOU CAN INFLUENCE Effective communication is crucial during periods of change. However, the message must not get lost in translation for communication to be truly impactful. Communications often fail due to three key factors: • Insufficient stakeholder engagement • Lack of leadership alignment • Failure to recognize the emotional and operational shifts needed Although many factors may be out of our control and frustrating, young professionals can navigate these complexities by focusing on the relationships they can build within the firm. For example, if you are working on a rollout that affects secretaries and have relationships with them and the secretarial manager, take time to engage with these groups. Visiting these teams allows you to understand their pain points, offer support, and encourage cross- department collaboration. Focusing your energy on what you can influence helps prevent burnout and empowers you to drive meaningful change. ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION THROUGH CROSS- GENERATIONAL LEARNING To facilitate successful change, firms must make it easy for employees to learn and adopt new behaviors through practical training. Young professionals can play a key role in fostering reverse mentorship. For instance, if you are involved in a firmwide document management system rollout affecting associates and partners, some associates may have prior experience with the new system. These associates can be encouraged to host micro- training sessions at practice group meetings, with an IT person in the room for support. This approach offers several benefits: 1) it promotes reverse mentorship, 2) it allows associates to develop their presentation skills, and 3) it empowers them to share their expertise while having a resource available to answer technical questions and provide additional insights. CONCLUSION The evolving legal landscape presents an opportunity for young professionals to adapt and lead. Success lies in balancing respect for established practices with the courage to champion new ideas. As the legal industry continues to transform, those who lean into collaboration, continuous learning, and adaptability will shape the future of legal practice. I hope these strategies are helpful to you as you navigate change management at your firm. If you want to continue this conversation and share your insights, please connect with me on LinkedIn. MICHELLE ZAMAN is passionate about bridging the gap between the legal industry and technology. With a unique, non-traditional background in technology, she champions a human-centered approach to adoption and training, ensuring technology solutions are both impactful and accessible for legal professionals. Known for her collaborative, people-first approach to change management in legal tech, Michelle was also the proud recipient of the ILTACON 2024 First-Timer Scholarship.

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