How would you describe the work of a lawyer? Meticulous, ethical, analytical, adaptive, pragmatic? But ask a roomful of lawyers and another set of words might surface just as quickly: overworked, stretched, reactive, isolated. To unlock the strengths, and minimise the pressure points I want to propose borrowing a mindset from another discipline entirely: design.

“This partnership with Law.com International is a natural step for us. It gives GCWN an opportunity to contribute to important conversations on wellbeing and leadership in law while connecting with a wider community of senior legal professionals.”
— Steven MacGregor, Founder & CEO, GCWN

In a crisis, your demeanour sets the tone. The business does not want to see its GC flustered or reactive. Nor do third parties who you want to instil confidence in (lenders, regulators, M&A counterparties). I learnt this during Thomas Cook’s financial collapse. When the worst happens—and it did—it puts everything into perspective. You survive, and you grow, and staying calm makes everything easier to manage.