Innovation, Productivity and Wellbeing...Innovation, Productivity and Wellbeing Creating environments that allow legal teams to excel Caroline Ferguson, Business Transformation and

Innovation, Productivity and WellbeingCreating environments that allow legal teams to excel

Caroline Ferguson, Business Transformation and Innovation Director, Simpson Grierson

#LawFest2019

Subject: We must do something about this!

Law Society of England & Wales - 2013

95% said

their stress was extreme

or severe

National Task Force on Lawyer Wellbeing – 2017

28% are struggling with depression

19% are struggling with anxiety

23% are struggling with stress

College of Law New Zealand – 2019

Performance and Well-being Study, 2019

“Innovation is, after all, about more than just engineering new processes. It is a human endeavour that engages the emotions; indeed it must do so if it is to succeed. The creation of an environment that is psychologically safe and moreover, inspiring, is critical to the success of the change”

The FLIP Report 2017

Depression, anxiety and stress negatively impacts:

Physical health

Relationships

Creative thinking

Performance and Productivity

Wellbeing

Productivity

Innovation

Subject: We must do something about this!

“the words we chose do more than just reflect our thought patterns –they shape them. What we say –and how we say it – can deeply affect a company’s culture”

Tom & David Kelley

“To change attitudes and behaviours, it helps first to change the vernacular”

Tom & David Kelley”

Destroy

“Resources”

“Yes, but”

Fixed Expert

Threatened

Propel

Empowered Humans

“Yes, and”

Curious Navigator

Safe

“Resources” Empowered Humans

Unsplash – Jordan Sanchez

#HUMAN

Stories + Check-ins + Capability

Activity

• Are your people doing the best work of their lives? If yes, why? If not, why?

• Do you use language that de-humanises people?

“Yes, but” “Yes, and”

“Big I little i – Tackling the wicked problems of innovation in large New Zealand organisations”

Assumptions fence in our thinking

Activity

• Do you hear “Yes, but” around your organisation?

• Fat chance

• Assumption Crusher

• What Would X Do?

What Would X Do?

• Richard Branson• Donald Trump• Xero• Dalai Lama • Oprah• Red Bull • The All Blacks • Rebellious Teenager

Fixed Experts Curious Navigators

Unsplash – Adnanta Rahaja

“A mind is like a parachute, it doesn’t work unless it is open”

“Big I little i – Tackling the wicked problems of innovation in large New Zealand organisations”

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn”

Alvin Toffler, Future Shock

http://mindfulambition.net/beginners-mind/

“Inventing a Thriving Future: Three Ways for Law Firms to Incubate Innovation”

• Encourage everyone to speak up

• Emphasise learning over perfection

• Reduce the impact of hierarchy

Destroy

“Resources”

“Yes, but”

Fixed Expert

Threatened

Propel

Empowered Humans

“Yes, and”

Curious Navigator

Safe

Wellbeing

Productivity

Innovation

My other tips

• Don’t boil the ocean – what is strategically important to your team/organisation?

• Leadership involvement is essential – do not be a “Trojan mouse”

• Not everyone cares - focus where the enthusiasm is

• Space matters

Thank you!@caroferguson