In the fast-changing world of legal consulting, I’ve built my career by leaning into new challenges and taking on diverse roles across industries. Over the years, I’ve led as General Counsel and Head of Compliance in organisations ranging from start-ups to large corporations. These experiences help me navigate complex professional landscapes and integrate quickly into new environments.

At the core of my approach is a commitment to continuous learning and strategic questioning. Asking questions puts me in the conversation, accelerates my understanding, and builds confidence, ensuring I add value quickly in every role I’ve taken on.

Here are a few strategies that can guide in approaching role transitions:

1. Understanding Organisational Context
   Before focusing on deliverables, prioritise understanding the business’s framework and environment. Learn who the stakeholders are and what matters to them, how the business operates, and how the broader ecosystem fits together. Start by asking: Who? What? Why? How?
2. The Power of Questioning
   Many professionals worry that asking questions will make them look uninformed. When, in fact, asking the right questions is a confidence-boosting professional superpower. There’s a world of difference between thinking ‘I don’t know’ and asking ‘Can you tell me the details about how that works?’ Asking thoughtful questions shows curiosity and a willingness to learn, which prompts others to share their knowledge and expertise. This approach accelerates onboarding and sets a tone of collaboration, curiosity, and challenge.
3. Leveraging Transferable Skills
   Rather than getting bogged down by specific technical knowledge (or a lack of it), focus on applying problem-solving skills and an investigative mindset. Treat each new role as an opportunity to apply your core competencies in a new context, rather than starting from zero.
4. Embracing Challenge (And Not Staying in Your Own Swim Lane)
   Challenging existing processes with thoughtful questions sparks fresh perspectives and drives continuous improvement. Asking ‘Why do we do it that way?’ is a powerful question and a potential catalyst for change. The goal isn’t always to provide the answer; sometimes it’s to help others arrive at better ones. When you respectfully challenge senior leaders, you model the importance of ‘speaking up’ to a healthy corporate culture.
5. Building Relationships
   In an increasingly virtual world, establishing and maintaining professional connections in a personal way becomes more important than ever. Build your internal network so people know who you are and what you bring to the table. Making an effort to meet new peers and seniors is invaluable to breaking into new environments with a growing network of new colleagues. Whenever possible, choose face-to-face conversations over a coffee instead of a Teams meeting. Showing genuine interest in others builds trust and helps with understanding where support, sponsorship, and key resources might lie.

These strategies reflect how I approach every new chapter: continuous learning, adaptability, and a commitment to adding value beyond traditional role expectations. For me, success isn’t about knowing everything, but about being adaptable, curious, confident, and willing to learn.

As the legal profession continues to evolve, we must also aim to adapt to change while actively shaping it.

Disclaimer: This post features insights from a guest author. Elevate occasionally invites select industry voices to share their perspectives on topics of interest to our audience. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Elevate.