Preparing for Transition for the same business but different environment
While undergoing career changes, but seeking to stay in the same area of business, which is the business of law, I have found that there are several factors and opportunities to consider when deciding what environment is suitable or adaptable based on skills and experience.
Knowing the business processes and mechanics of one environment, may or may not have benefit in a different environment, however both environments service the same business need. So what does one do to prepare for such a transformation and outline an adaptive platform to maximize opportunity?
First is to outline the basic similarities and goals between different environments. For this instance, the similarities between a law firm and a law department are the requirements of improving processes and fulfilling requirements for both internal profitability and external value management (in other words, keep your internal or external client in good standing and maximize the positive output of the matter deliverables using knowledge and experience in that way). The second is knowing the landscape of how to accomplish positive outputs by realizing market or industry significance of the problems faced (i.e. changes in laws or procedure, trends in technology management, alternative methods for reducing risks). Finally, realize that learning is adaptive and change is necessary regardless of where a situation is present, therefore it is necessary to foster change management whenever possible to make positive improvements.
Having the “basics” down is the best start in preparing. Going forward, knowing how to adapt skills and experience that can be applied to the similarities is necessary for opportunity growth and shared profitability for the individual and the environment where the opportunity lies. For example, moving from a law department environment to a law firm environment would present challenges in process and direction, however the knowledge and experience of being on the “client side” would prove invaluable for managing expectations of deliverables for the law firm. The law firm gains knowledge of how a client perceives value and how deliverables can be accomplished either within a verified scope or within a transparent cost management perspective. Additionally, the law firm understands how profit can be maximized through client efficiency and competitive advantage.
The basics are one aspect of preparation, but the next step for preparation is focusing in on what changes are desired and how can past/present skills and experience realize the desired changes within the new opportunity. Preparing a list or track record of proposals for developing improvements is another key preparation strategy for transfer into another environment. Taking one environment’s challenges to a different environment may not prove value immediately, but the similarity in discovering opportunity for change is a potential source of opportunity for advancement. For example, the law firm could benefit in opportunity from realizing a law department’s problem; applying experimental strategy planned for the law department for a similar law firm problem (which is modified just enough to meet the requirements of a law firm) potentially addresses the challenge and presents solution, resulting in positive benefit.
A final note, is that preparation is evolutionary for any environment and the best preparation is to know as much as possible about the environmental factors and assume a posture of adaptive knowledge and hone strengths of experience as the best offering with the willingness to foster and promote change for improvement.
Best of luck to those in transition!