Practical Tips for Today’s GC

Building strong board relationships is one of the most important and nuanced responsibilities of a General Counsel. In this Ready Set GC blog, we explore practical strategies for managing board dynamics, delivering effective board presentations, navigating governance tensions, and building credibility through preparation, communication, and sound judgment.

There are certain phrases that, the moment they’re spoken, subtly shift the energy in the room. For many executive teams, one of those phrases is when legal says: It’s a business decision. From Legal’s perspective, it often feels like the right thing to say. Disciplined. Appropriate. Even respectful of roles. But in our Ready Set GC program sessions with our experienced C-Suite leaders, the reaction is almost universal and surprisingly visceral: They hate it. Not because

Becoming General Counsel isn’t about being the best specialist in the room. It’s about developing the judgment, leadership, and breadth of experience organizations look for in an enterprise leader. The challenge is that most of the experiences that build GC readiness don’t sit neatly inside a job description. That’s where job crafting comes in — intentionally shaping your current role to gain the exposure, visibility, and strategic perspective required to step into the GC sea

Executive presence is often described as gravitas and confidence—but its true foundation is emotional intelligence. From self-awareness and self-regulation to empathy, motivation, and social skills, EQ shapes how leaders build trust, communicate under pressure, and inspire others. This post explores how strengthening emotional intelligence creates the stability and authenticity that define lasting executive presence.