Not a "Nice to Do" - a "Need to Do" - Business Development Teamwork

Most lawyers have team experience: on larger transactions and cases, it's the only way to provide the kind of sophisticated legal services that clients need to solve their most challenging business problems.

And research is now demonstrating that team work is the best way to approach any aspect of business innovation and problem solving. In my work of more than 30 years with law firms across the country, I've learned that while team work is natural when it comes to client work, we haven't been quite as successful recognizing it's advantages with respect to business development. Maybe it's that pesky compensation system that discourages it. It's time to get over this barrier and start reaping the benefits that combining time, talent and a shared sense of mission have to offer!

Putting together a successful team is no easy task. But law firms might learn something from those organizations where teams thrive. For instance at Google. Based on an extensive study done by Google to attempt to determine why some of their teams were so successful and others failed, the bottom line was that it is impossible to find a pattern to personalities and skills that make up the best attributes for a team. Labeled Project Aristotle, the study of 180 teams resulted in identifying the determining factor of successful teams to be group norms—the team culture as reflected in traditions, behavior standards, unwritten rules that govern the team when together. Also contributing to team success were having clear goals and the dependability of team members.

Stay tuned next week for more on the dynamics of successful teams in business. Follow us on Linked In to get the latest updates.

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