In 2005, Thomas Friedman coined a phrase that described the ease with which organizations and individuals all over the world can access and communicate with each other: “flat.” “In the flat world,” he stated, “more and more business will be done through collaborations….for a very simple reason: The next layers of value creation—whether in technology, marketing, biomedicine or manufacturing are becoming so complex that no single firm or department [or individual] is going to be able to master them alone.” Friedman’s book, The World is Flat, suggests that the age of when a business thrived on the thoughts and energies of one person is over. Now we are in “The Age of Collaboration”: where success emanates through coalitions, collaborations, and sharing. Law firms who want to compete successfully in the “flat” world and fully engage colleagues and clients must develop the skills and practices to reach across multiple offices. Such expansive access can drive revenue by opening up new markets and facilitate more frequent contact with existing clients.
Transitioning to a more collaborative model offers many benefits to law firms and departments. For example, research indicates that creativity increases when groups grapple with complex issues such as those presented to lawyers. This is especially true in groups comprised of individuals who possess varied perspectives. Collaboration makes training more efficient and effective by giving group members opportunities to teach and learn from each other. This is particularly beneficial in legal settings where work is complex and regulations can change rapidly. Cross-selling, done with increased frequency in law firms through the installation of industry groups, is optimized through effective collaborations where individuals possessing different legal foci educate each other about what they do and develop opportunities for each other to work with ongoing clients. Finally, collaboration tends to increase retention among highly valued talent through fostering a sense of value and belonging among group members.
In order to reap the benefits of collaboration, leaders must utilize team-oriented viewpoints and skills that enable people to work together for a shared purpose. They must facilitate connections and inclusion among all individuals and provide a vision about the direction and values of organization. The most adept collaborative leaders are well-tooled in a skill set that includes:
Through applying perspectives that encourages diverse input among individuals in an organization, collaborative leaders are capable of responding to ideas and discoveries that quickly arise in a flat world. In addition, they can navigate change, efficiently react to challenges, and access opportunities. The more leaders can actively utilize and build upon the talents of those in their workforce through constructing processes and cultures that encourage cooperation and sharing, the more effective they will be at multiplying the strength of their organizations and driving success.