In-House Counsel

Leverage Your Online Presence

It is all about the quality of your impact and the trust you build.

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Businesswoman at apex of crowdThe benefits of establishing trust and building influence should be of paramount importance for any in-house lawyer. It is not just important for your overall success and resilience within your own organization, it is also important for your reputation outside of your organization.

Leveraging your online presence is one way you can build trust and create influence in and out of your organization. Leveraging your online presence begins with building a strong and authentic personal brand, engaging with your audience, and strategically using various platforms to reach and impact that target audience. For many in-house lawyers, LinkedIn has become the platform of choice. So what exactly are the benefits, and how can you get started? I do not profess to be an expert, but I can share what benefits I see as well as what I did to get started.

Benefits Of Leveraging Your Online Presence To Create Influence

Personal Branding: Building influence outside your organization contributes to your personal brand. It helps establish you as an expert or thought leader in your field which can enhance your reputation and credibility. A strong personal brand can also boost your visibility and attractiveness to potential employers or collaborators.

Personal Risk Mitigation: In the event of downsizing, restructuring, or other challenges within your organization, you will be more prepared to explore alternative job opportunities because you will have an external network that you may consult for guidance or that may provide a safety net.

Career Advancement: Building influence beyond your organization can open up new career opportunities. When you are known and respected in your industry or field, you may be considered for leadership roles, speaking engagements, or advisory positions that can enhance your career prospects.

Knowledge and Learning: Networking and engaging with individuals outside your organization can expose you to fresh ideas, different perspectives, and industry trends that you might not encounter within your organization. The knowledge you gain can help you stay current in your field and adapt to changes more effectively.

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Problem-Solving: When you face challenges or need to find solutions to complex problems within your organization, having a network of influential contacts can be invaluable. Your influential contacts can provide advice, share their experiences, and connect you with experts who can help you address your issues more effectively.

Innovation: Interacting with a diverse group of people from various industries and backgrounds can spark creativity and innovation. You may come across novel ideas, technologies, or approaches that you can apply within your organization to drive positive change and growth.

Professional Development: Influence often comes from continuous learning and skill development. Engaging with industry associations, attending conferences, and participating in online forums or communities can help you acquire new skills and knowledge that benefit your career.

Diverse Perspectives: Collaborating with people from different backgrounds and industries can lead to more well-rounded decision-making. It can help you to avoid “groupthink” and encourages fresh, innovative approaches to problem-solving.

Giving Back: As you build influence, you can also use your position to give back to your community or industry. You may mentor others, participate in volunteer work, or advocate for positive changes that benefit your field as a whole.

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How Did I Get Started?

I started by defining my goals and establishing a niche:

  • I identified my area of expertise or passion.
  • I defined my target audience and decided what I wanted to do to achieve an online presence.

I worked on building a consistent personal brand:

  • I developed a personal brand that I felt reflected my values and expertise.
  • I used the same profile picture, username, and bio across all social media platforms for recognition.

I worked on preparing meaningful content:

  • I wrote pieces that I hoped would address the needs and interests of my target audience.
  • I focused on content formats that included blog posts, podcasts, and LinkedIn posts. You can also produce videos and infographics.
  • Most importantly, I focused on being consistent by maintaining a regular posting schedule.

I engaged with my audience:

  • When posting on LinkedIn, I took the time to respond to all comments, promptly and genuinely.
  • I also took the opportunity when possible to collaborate with other content creators by sharing their pieces or sharing a byline with them.

Through my social media posts, I strive to provide value through problem solving and sharing knowledge:

  • I shared possible solutions to common problems or challenges within my area.
  • I worked to share my knowledge generously and have tried to position myself as an authority in my field.

I prioritized networking and collaboration especially with other influencers, experts, and thought leaders in my area.

Lastly, I worked to stay authentic:

  • I found that authenticity was crucial for building trust and influence. The key for me was to be myself and share from my personal experiences.
  • I also learned that part of being authentic was admitting mistakes when necessary and learning from them.

My final takeaway for any in-house lawyer is simply this. Building influence online takes time and consistent effort. It’s not about the number of followers you have.

It is all about the quality of your impact and the trust you build. Keep refining your approach and adjusting your strategy as you learn more about what resonates with your audience.

On October 17, I’ll be joining legal industry personal branding greats Brittany Johnson and Heather Stevenson on the IHC Roundtable Series for a discussion on personal branding for in-house lawyers, including lessons learned and actionable tips on how to start. It should be a great conversation! I hope you join us. Register using the link below.

IHC Roundtable Series: Social Media and Personal Branding for In-House Counsel – In-House Connect (inhouseconnect.org)

Lisa-Lang_241Lisa Lang is an in-house lawyer and thought leader who is passionate about all things in-house.  She has recently launched a website and blog Why This, Not That™ (www.lawyerlisalang.com ) to serve as a resource for in-house lawyers.  You can e-mail her at [email protected] , connect with her on LinkedIn  (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawyerlisalang/) or follow her on Twitter (@lang_lawyer).

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