Why Transparency Is the New Currency For Law Firm Leaders [Published in Law.com]
When a law firm experiences change, silence or ambiguous messaging can create a vacuum in which suspicion and mistrust can develop. Transparency in communication is essential to building credibility with a firm’s team and stakeholders, protecting organizational reputation, and fostering growth.
Furia Rubel Vice President of Strategic Development Jennifer Simpson Carr and International Faculty member Brenda Plowman recently published an article highlighting the importance of transparency. They explain that keeping information from team members will often lead them to fill in the gaps, hurting morale and damaging firm culture. Being proactive in communicating about change helps a firm take control of the narrative. Vague updates from an organization can result in the spread of misinformation.
Carr and Plowman also identify ways law firm leaders can be transparent while protecting strategic priorities:
- Develop a communications plan for every significant change
- Equip your leadership team with consistent talking points
- Create feedback loops
- Make transparency a leadership habit, not a crisis response
- Lead with empathy
When leaders demonstrate thoughtful transparency, they are showing respect for their teams. Consistently maintaining open communication will lead to a strong firm culture that can weather the inevitable changes of a rapidly evolving industry.
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