Dr. No – How to Be the Smartest Improviser in Any Room (4 Lessons for GCs)

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hey lawyer,

Today, we’re talking about improvisation—and how to stop being the "Department of No" and start driving real business value. Because let’s be honest: hiding behind stacks of contracts muttering "too risky" is about as relevant as fax machines and office smoking lounges.

Will Hines, improv legend, teaches a skill every elite GC should steal: adaptability.

🔹 Give a Surprising Answer

GCs tend to default to safe answers—hedged, cautious, predictable. But impact comes from surprise.

Example: Next time your CFO says, “Legal always says no,” don’t defend. Just deadpan:
"Actually, we say ‘no’ in 23 different ways. Would you like the alphabetical list or ranked by creativity?"
(Pause. Let them laugh. Now they’re listening.)

🔹 Use the “Yes, And” Approach with Your CEO

When your CEO bursts in with another legally questionable genius idea, your instinct might be to respond with "Absolutely not, and here are 17 regulations to prove it."

Try this instead:
"Yes, I see the business opportunity, and here’s how we might structure it so no one goes to prison."

🔹 Care 20% More Than Expected

Most people expect legal to be robotic. Surprising them with enthusiasm is a secret weapon.

Example: A CFO casually mentions cost-cutting measures. Instead of nodding, one GC replied:
"I’ve actually been thinking about our expense structure. Give me two weeks, and I’ll present a legal ops overhaul that could save us 15% annually."
The CFO was stunned—in a good way.

When was the last time you showed up with unexpected passion for something nobody thought you cared about?

🔹 Be Brutally Specific

Vague is forgettable. Specific is persuasive.

Instead of saying "this carries some risk," try:
"This feature has a 12% chance of triggering a CNMC review, which typically takes 4-6 weeks and costs €60,000 to resolve. Here are three alternative approaches ranked by risk and impact."

Now you’re the most credible person in the room.

⚡ AI Booster of the Week

✅ Pitch: Instantly create stunning presentations that actually get read. Because we’ve all suffered through enough unreadable slide decks.

Final Thought

• Who do you secretly envy—and what does that reveal about what you truly value?

• Who do you secretly admire in your organization—and what does that reveal about your untapped potential?

Your answers expose the gap between who you are today and who you're capable of becoming tomorrow.

See you at the top,

Rosa & Manuel