Amii Barnard-Bahn, an executive coach who specializes in accelerating the success of legal executives and their teams, presented a masterclass to ACC members focused on promotability and career development strategies for corporate attorneys. There are some unsurprising basics, a few clear differentiators, a handful of less obvious skills and one overarching must have so in-house counsel can stay ahead of emerging risks in our “volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous” environment.
Amii Barnard-Bahn, an executive coach who specializes in accelerating the success of legal executives and their teams, presented a masterclass to Association of Corporate Counsel members focused on promotability and career development strategies for corporate attorneys. Jumping off from that session, and noting how much the legal industry has changed over the last decade, she then compiled a list of additional skills, knowledge and abilities modern in-house counsel should possess today compared to 10 years ago. Among the attributes she highlights, there are some unsurprising basics (financial acumen and project management), a few clear differentiators (executive presence, courage), a handful of less obvious skills (records and information management, adult learning theory), and one overarching must have – a “VUCA mindset” so in-house counsel can stay ahead of emerging risks in our “volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous” environment. Above all, she emphasizes “humility” as a key trait. “As a leader,” she writes, “you need an endless feedback loop from your boss, key stakeholders, and your team so that you have a clear understanding of your leadership traits. Not knowing is a blind spot that undermines everything you and your team try to achieve.”
Published October 9, 2020.
