Dr. No - How to influence your team without them even realizing it

Hi there,

Rosa and I have fun keeping in touch with those who matter to us, so we'll be sending you occasional stories like this. If it's not your thing, no worries—just click the link below, and we'll still be good friends.

Today’s Dr. No covers 3 awesome things:

1. A brilliant book that will help you master the art of influencing your legal team to drive real change.

2. Two AI tools that will supercharge your efficiency and streamline workflows.

3. One thought-provoking question for you.

Let’s dig in.

Book Recommendation:

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

Transforming a legal department from a cost center to a value-generating powerhouse is no easy feat. But, when your team is equipped with the right mindset, influence becomes a game-changer. Cialdini's Influence lays out seven key principles that are critical in shifting attitudes and behaviors, and they couldn’t be more relevant to general counsels like you looking to lead transformative change.

Here’s a quick breakdown of all seven principles, adapted for your world:

1. Reciprocity

Imagine rolling out a new policy that makes team members' lives easier—say, implementing a legal software that automates tedious tasks like contract review or offering opportunities for professional development or personal coaching. You’ve now showed that you care about your team and invested in their growth and success. In return, they’ll be more willing to embrace new initiatives and put in discretionary effort when needed, and sets the tone for a culture of giving.

2. Commitment & Consistency

When someone publicly commits to a goal or standard, they’re more likely to stick to it. You can leverage this by having your team publicly state their personal targets for the quarter or year. Start small by having team members commit to incremental improvements. Once they’ve committed to small changes, they'll be much more willing to adopt larger, transformative changes over time.

3. Social Proof

People tend to follow the lead of others, especially if those people are credible. Share examples from other successful GCs or innovative legal departments that have shifted to value-generating models. Every now and then Rosa and I organize this sort of gatherings with succesful GCs, so let us know if you are keen to participate. If the best in the business can do it, your team will feel it's possible for them, too.

4. Authority

We listen to experts, plain and simple. As a GC, your authority carries weight. If you continuously present yourself as the thought leader in your field—sharing knowledge from new cases, laws, or legal tech—your team will naturally follow suit and see you as a reliable source for transformation.

5. Liking

People say "yes" to those they like. It sounds simple, but fostering personal connections can do wonders. When your team knows you on a more personal level (or at least feels seen and valued by you), they’ll be more open to your ideas. Leading with empathy is one of the most powerful ways to influence change.

6. Scarcity

We want what we can’t have. Make your initiatives feel exclusive or time-sensitive to instill a sense of urgency. For example, if there’s a limited opportunity to implement a new legal tech solution, presenting it as a rare opportunity to jump ahead could inspire action.

7. Unity

Building a strong sense of "we’re in this together" can inspire your team to go above and beyond. Frame changes in the department as collective wins. You’re not just leading them; you’re a part of the change with them. When your team feels like they’re part of something bigger, they’ll move mountains.

 Link to the book: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

AI Productivity Tools

 Two tools you should have on your radar to help boost your team's efficiency:

1. Jamie: Receive accurate meeting minutes, tasks, and decisions with Jamie - your bot-free AI note-taker. GDPR compliant knowledge retrieval in seconds.
   Check it out.

2. Suppa: Build and deploy smart chatbots that answer questions across web and mobile with minimal technical skills required. This can help your legal department streamline communication and reduce low-value work within your team or across other departments.
   Learn more.

Thought-Provoking Question

What conversation will you be proud of yourself for having—even if it doesn’t end with the outcome you want?

Go and have that conversation.

That's it for today. We hope this sparks some thoughts on how to inspire change in your team or yourself. As always, if you want to talk, feel free to reply.

Best,

Manuel & Rosa