The recent Oscars provided some memorable moments and inspiring speeches. However, surprisingly the speech that resonated most with me, were the words spoken by Cheryl Boone Isaacs, President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She outlined the three pillars of the Academy as follows:
- Preserve the past
- Honour the present
- Shape the future
Those words are a wonderful reminder for business leaders in all sectors (particularly legal services) as they embark on transformational change to appropriately balance the past with the present and the desired future. The quest to shape the future should not be at the expense of preserving the relevant fine traditions of the past. In addition, although it is sometimes frustrating for change agents when the pace of change is not as fast as desired, we should not forget to celebrate the progress to date because where we are today is not where we were yesterday.