I recently had a conversation with a senior lawyer who was offered a great opportunity to go on secondment to one of their firm’s clients for six months. The firm saw this as a way to help build stronger relationships, maximise understanding of the client’s business, and embed their legal services more deeply.
While opportunities like this are exciting, it’s important to make sure that the secondment benefits everyone involved – yourself, your firm, and the client. So how can you make sure a secondment at senior level is a success?
SEEK CLARITY FROM YOUR FIRM
With any secondment, you should be thinking about how you optimise the experience so it doesn’t just turn into a six-month diversion. How will the move set you up for success in your career once you return? Seek clarity from your company as to what a good secondment means in your context. If you want to guide the conversation I would suggest asking:
- What knowledge would be helpful for you to acquire to bring back to the company?
- What knowledge would it be helpful for you to transfer to the client?
- Which types of relationships should you look to foster when you are on secondment? Either for yourself or between other employees and the client.
- Are there any opportunities you should be exploring for your company in relation to the client company?
CHECK-IN WITH THE CLIENT TOO
Once you’re clear from your company’s point of view, I think it’s worth asking the client and, in particular, the client sponsor what they’re hoping to gain from the secondment, too. With this information, you can gain further insight into what matters to the client. It will also increase the likelihood that they’ll perceive it as a success and thus will be more likely to deliver what you need them to for it to be a success for your firm.
REMEMBER TO KEEP EVERYONE’S GOALS IN MIND
Make sure you keep these intentions in the forefront of your mind throughout the secondment. The worst thing to do is be clear in advance, go in, get busy, and then forget what you’re looking to achieve. I recommend a document on your laptop which you return to at least weekly which lays out your intentions and which you can add progress and notes to as you move forward.
Three resources to help with optimising a secondment:
- The pros and cons of a secondment, if you’re considering whether to do one:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/benjaminlaker/2024/02/01/the-secondment-experience-a-pathway-to-growth-or-a-career-stalemate/ - How to maximise your learning in any short-term assignment:
https://hbr.org/2016/07/maximize-your-learning-in-short-term-assignments - Advice on how to mesh with the company you’re seconded to:
https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/practice/getting-your-secondment-right-first-time/5107994.article
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