Achieve long-term success with an optimisation mindset

Category: Blog, Implement Continuous Improvement, Practice Management 17th March 2022

If optimisation is viewed as a one-off project, then law firms are setting themselves up for failure. To achieve long-term success the act of optimisation is ongoing; a continuous mindset that connects and drives a team to perform at their best.

But what does an optimisation mindset look like? Firstly, goals and targets need to be set, as these help to define – and are used to measure – a firm’s long-term success. Crucially, optimisation goals provide a single aim and sense of purpose that connects and motivates the firm.

The next stage is to break down existing processes, actions, and tasks to gain a better understanding of how the firm currently runs. This process then identifies opportunities for improvements that will help to set and achieve the long-term goals. It’ll present solutions, processes, and resources that can be better utilised, improved, or changed.

At this stage, the task of optimisation can feel overwhelming, but a continuous optimisation mindset focuses on the small, incremental improvements that are an achievable addition to everyone’s day. Don’t strive for perfection here; simply implement a small improvement that will take you one step closer to achieving the goal. When the change is manageable, the chance of failure is decreased, and the sense of progression and achievement provides motivation for sustainable, long-term success.

Legal process innovation enables long-term success

Law firms over the last two years will have likely implemented or started using new technology and software solutions that have allowed them to adapt and work in a changing environment. The process of optimisation looks to fully utilise the technology and resources on offer to get the best result. The biggest mistake a business makes is implementing software to simply digitalise existing inefficient processes. Instead, it’s changing the way you work and your existing processes that will enable you to get the most from your tech.

The idea of ‘making the software work hard for you’ isn’t just about how flexible and configurable the system is to meet the needs of your firm, but importantly, how flexible, and adaptable your firm’s mindset is to embrace and utilise the tech to transform your operations. The biggest barrier we see to law firms optimising their processes is an unwillingness to change from the status quo, but it’s the firms who are open to change and are flexible to try new ideas that succeed long-term.