Slow is smooth, smooth is fast: a legal manager’s approach to transformation
The mindset I’ve adopted - “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” - has become a practical guide for driving sustainable transformation.
The pitfalls of speed
Legal transformation isn’t just about digitising workflows or automating contracts. It’s about building systems that reduce risk, enhance compliance, and support long-term growth and continuous improvement. When we move too quickly, we risk introducing inefficiencies, missing key details, and losing stakeholder engagement.
What “slow” really means
Taking things slow doesn’t mean delaying progress - it means investing time upfront to get it right. That starts with understanding the details: the client’s contractual frameworks, supplier relationships, and the regulatory context they operate in.
It also means engaging early with teams outside of Legal - Procurement, IT, Data Governance - to ensure alignment. Legal doesn’t work in isolation, and the more we collaborate from the outset, the smoother the implementation becomes.
This groundwork helps us anticipate challenges, design intuitive workflows, and build systems that hold up under pressure.
Creating smooth systems
Once the foundation is in place, we can build processes that feel seamless. Smooth systems are those that work well even when things get complex. They’re scalable, adaptable, and easy to navigate - whether you’re in Legal, Product, or Client Services.
Smoothness also means clarity. When roles, responsibilities, and expectations are clearly defined, teams can move with confidence. Automation flows properly. Approvals don’t stall. Legal becomes a strategic enabler, not a bottleneck.
The payoff: real speed
Here’s the paradox: once things are smooth, speed follows naturally. Teams aren’t slowed down by confusion or rework. They know what to do, how to do it, and who to go to when something changes.
“Slow is smooth, smooth is fast” isn’t about delaying transformation - it’s about accelerating it in the right way.
Final thoughts
Legal teams are often seen as gatekeepers. But with the right approach, they can be catalysts for change. By moving deliberately and building with care, we create systems that serve the business - not just today, but in the long run.
So the next time you’re asked to “move fast,” consider this: speed without structure is chaos. But structure built with intention? That’s what creates real, lasting momentum.