There are times when you can be right and times when you can get what we want, but achieving both isn’t always a given. This can be frustrating!
The reality is that legal operations professionals can communicate clearly and correctly to their GC, stakeholders, and team members but still not yield the results they aim for.
As a content leader, I want to share three persuasive writing tips I use to inspire action. These are small but effective techniques you can incorporate into your communications for better outcomes.
1. Sell the ask.
It’s human nature for people to be more engaged when the subject matter is relatable. When making your case, relay personal benefits. This is especially persuasive in change management communications.
Less Persuasive: "Implementing this policy will improve compliance."
More Persuasive: "Implementing this policy will streamline your daily tasks and enhance your team’s efficiency."
2. Directly (and politely) tell them what should happen next.
Since directness is often misconstrued as rudeness, you might hesitate to ask directly for what you need. Yet, it's possible to be both polite and clear. Stating the desired action clearly not only shows respect for your audience's time but also spares them the task of deciphering expectations.
Less Persuasive: "Thank you for reviewing the proposed changes; your time is appreciated, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns."
More Persuasive: "Please review the proposed changes and share any feedback by Friday. Your insights are essential to us."
3. Make the connection between the data you share and the outcome you want.
Many the legal ops professionals are very good at taking in data, pulling out what’s necessary, and understanding its impact. However, that’s not a universal skill. When you include data in your communications, limit it to what’s specifically relevant to your audience and build a narrative around it for context.
Less Persuasive: "Last year, our legal spending exceeded projections. See, Exhibit A: 2022 and 2023 legal expenditures."
More Persuasive: "Last year’s challenges resulted in a 20% overage in legal spending, more than we planned but a marked improvement over 2022 where we spent 58% more than projected."
Final Thought: Write freely. Edit ruthlessly.
Your words have the power to connect, engage, and drive action - so let them flow. At first.
When you sit down to write, don’t start editing your work until at least three paragraphs in.The clearest and most persuasive copy often emerges on the page once you've given your thoughts the freedom to unfold.
Allow yourself to write that draft without hitting the backspace key. Then cut, cut, and cut some more. It’s not uncommon for me to slide that third paragraph up to the top of the page and get rid of everything that came before.
Let your writing flow, then sharpen it. Trust in your message, and your ability to refine it. You’ve got this!