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1. Innovation is not all about you using Google Docs instead of Word, or Slack instead of email
2. Even if it was, getting Google Docs or Slack is not the hard part. Unearthing long-standing processes and adapting them to fit with those new tools is the hard part
2. Even if it was, getting Google Docs or Slack is not the hard part. Unearthing long-standing processes and adapting them to fit with those new tools is the hard part
3. Innovation is about looking way beyond "tools" and thinking about how you can be a better business regardless of snazzy tools
4. So the first step is to think of "how can we be a better business?". More profit? Better culture? Probably lots of things. Name them. Discuss them.
4. So the first step is to think of "how can we be a better business?". More profit? Better culture? Probably lots of things. Name them. Discuss them.
5. Then you ask, "how can we achieve a business goal, and how will we measure it?". Then go on a hunt and find pockets of the business where you can start doing stuff
6. You'll find out LOADS AND LOADS as you start doing stuff. Doing stuff is the best way to find out things
6. You'll find out LOADS AND LOADS as you start doing stuff. Doing stuff is the best way to find out things
7. As you find out more things, you'll get better and better at doing stuff. That's why the "whole shebang" tactic doesn't work. You need to learn first.
8. Innovation is about always refining what you are doing and always measuring yourself against targets
8. Innovation is about always refining what you are doing and always measuring yourself against targets
9. When you do stuff, be completely agnostic about whether your successes are brought by technology or process improvements. It makes no difference
10. No matter what you do, you NEED to get inside the shoes of the key people. Get inside their minds as much as you can
10. No matter what you do, you NEED to get inside the shoes of the key people. Get inside their minds as much as you can
11. In legal, and any other industry, you WILL encounter roadblocks because nobody likes to change. Work out what makes people tick. Measure your success. Broadcast successes to build trust. That will help deliver change
12. Too many lawyers still think innovation is either (a) them using Slack, Trello and Google docs, or (b) doing super cool robotic stuff with AI
13. They need to understand (a) is not as simple as it sounds. It's TOUGH - decades of practice has built up that needs to change
13. They need to understand (a) is not as simple as it sounds. It's TOUGH - decades of practice has built up that needs to change
14. They need to understand that (b) is often just a PR stunt. If that's what you're going for, that's fine - but be honest with yourself: it's PR, not innovation
15. Both (a) and (b), are pointless unless you can relate them to your metrics on how you can be a better business
15. Both (a) and (b), are pointless unless you can relate them to your metrics on how you can be a better business
16. Finally, don't overpromise and don't do anything if the only goal is self-promotion. People see through that. Don't try to be the hero. Let your users be the heroes. Your job is to guide them
(This thread spurred on by the realisation that quite a lot of people see those who work in legal innovation as glorified IT Support)
