If you’re working as an in-house lawyer, you probably know the pressure to be perfect. The legal world moves fast, expectations are sky-high, and mistakes? They’re not really an option—or at least, that’s how it feels.
But what if chasing perfection is actually getting in the way of being the kind of leader you want to be?
That’s exactly what in-house lawyers Lisa Lang and Niti Nadarajah have learned. After years in high-pressure roles, they’ve come to a powerful conclusion: authentic leadership for in-house lawyers starts with letting go of the need to be perfect.
And when they did, everything changed.
Watch the full conversation with Lisa Lang and Niti Nadarajah here:
Authentic Leadership for In-House Lawyers Starts with Letting Go
For Niti, the pressure to be perfect started early. She remembers getting a 98 on a school test and being asked, “Where’s the other two percent?” That mindset stuck with her. Like a lot of lawyers, she believed being successful meant being flawless.
But over time, she realized perfectionism was holding her back. She’d spend way too long perfecting a single task—then scramble to catch up on everything else. It wasn’t healthy, and it wasn’t sustainable.
Lisa experienced something similar. In law firms, perfection was expected. Every word, every comma, every memo—picked apart. Vulnerability? Not an option.
But once she moved in-house, that all shifted. The business needed fast, practical advice. There just wasn’t time to polish everything to perfection. She had to focus on what mattered most. And that meant learning to let go.
Being Real Builds Connection
Letting go of perfection didn’t just help Lisa and Niti work more efficiently—it helped them connect more deeply with others.
Niti started sharing more of her story—online and in real life. She talked about the challenges, the doubts, the imperfect moments. And instead of criticism, she got connection. People related to her honesty. Her vulnerability gave others permission to open up too.
Lisa saw the impact on her team. When she stopped pretending to have all the answers, people felt more comfortable bringing their ideas forward. The trust was real. The collaboration got better.
This is what authentic leadership for in-house lawyers really looks like. Not pretending to be perfect—but showing up as human.
Why Imperfection Is a Strength in Authentic Leadership for In-House Lawyers
Here’s the thing: being real isn’t a weakness. In fact, it might be your biggest advantage as a leader.
Authentic leadership for in-house lawyers means embracing empathy, transparency, and connection. It’s about focusing on people, not just performance. You don’t need to be the smartest person in the room—you just need to be someone others can trust.
If you’ve been carrying the weight of perfection, maybe it’s time to set it down. You can still be excellent without being exhausting. The legal world doesn’t need more “perfect” lawyers. It needs more real ones.
Quick Takeaway
The big takeaway? Authentic leadership for in-house lawyers starts with letting go of the idea that you have to be perfect. When you lead with honesty and empathy, people notice—and they respond.
Perfection isolates. Authenticity connects.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 3, Episode 20 (Lisa Lang and Niti Nadarajah)
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