Why we explored the unwritten rules in organisations
Five principles for navigating unwritten rules
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Every organisation has its own unwritten rules, the invisible currents of culture, relationships, and priorities that shape how things actually get done. For in-house lawyers, understanding those dynamics can make the difference between being heard and being sidelined. However, doing it well means striking a balance between commercial awareness and ethical judgment.
This year’s Juno Learning series, Navigating the Unwritten Rules, built on last year’s series topic of Building Influence. Once you have influence, how do you apply it in the messy reality of unwritten rules?
What we heard from GCs and senior leaders across Aotearoa
In September, we brought together experienced heads of legal, CEOs, and senior leaders in communications and risk to share their insights with in-house legal leaders. The kōrero was candid, generous, practical, and full of moments of collective nodding in recognition.
Feedback from guests included:
- “Engaging with other lawyers facing similar challenges was unexpectedly valuable.”
- “Brilliant speakers—relatable, funny, and full of helpful insights.”
- “I always learn so much from peers in similar roles in other organisations. It’s heartening to know we face similar challenges and useful to hear how others navigate these issues.”
- “It was a great room of people and such useful discussions.”
Navigating unwritten rules: five practical lessons for in-house lawyers
1. Unwritten rules are real
They’re not written in any policy manual, but they certainly govern how decisions get made. Formal authority doesn’t always equal real decision-making power. It's up to individuals to map influence networks, not just org charts. And if you're unsure, it pays to ask. It's very rare that asking a question is the wrong thing to do.
“Title and power aren’t the same thing. Watch who people listen to, that’s often where the real influence lies.”
You won’t always spot the unwritten rules early, and you’ll sometimes stumble, but curiosity and good questions help you recover fast and learn even faster.
What this looks like:
• Build trust so you can deliver tough messages without fear. "Bad news doesn’t get better with time"
• When you see unhealthy norms, challenge them calmly and constructively.
• Keep your advice simple and actionable, as clarity helps dismantle bad habits.
2. Relationships are your safety net
People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Every interaction should be mana-enhancing.
Trusted relationships give you insight into priorities, concerns, and the informal voices that steer decisions. They allow you to influence early, respond early, and understand the human dynamics beneath the technical work.
Strong relationships don’t just make the job easier; they make your advice land better.
What this looks like:
• Make time for corridor chats, coffees, and cross-team projects.
• Show curiosity about the business beyond legal issues.
• Notice quiet influencers — they often carry real weight.
3. Timing and tact
Picking your battles is an art. “We don’t buy fights at the wrong time and we don’t buy fights with the wrong people.” Even the right advice can fail if delivered at the wrong moment. Timing and tone are as important as substance, and they require empathy.
What this looks like:
• Share early, not late, so you’re shaping thinking rather than blocking progress.
• Ask how people want to engage; some prefer a rough, 80% draft, others want polish.
• “Sometimes you just need to read the room... and know when NOT to speak.”
4. Simplicity wins
Lawyers love detail; however, business leaders love clarity. No one else reads past page one. Advice that’s clear and human builds credibility and trust.
What this looks like:
• Use plain language and short formats.
• Frame advice around impact: “Here’s what this means for you...”
• Focus on deep understanding, not technical volume.
Don’t overvalue technical input; it's important to understand your role in the bigger machine. And it pays to remember: “Not everyone values your advice. Get over it.”
5. Service is your superpower
In-house lawyers who make others’ jobs easier earn trust faster than those who simply deliver technical answers. "If you keep saying no, people stop asking. Help find safer ways forward.”
Service doesn’t always mean saying yes. It means:
• Framing advice around what matters most to stakeholders.
• Offering solutions, not just problems.
• Being pragmatic and human: clarity beats complexity every time.
So, how do you navigate unwritten rules?
Not by memorising a secret playbook.
Unwritten rules lose their messy power when you:
• Understand informal power
• Invest in relationships
• Choose your moments wisely
• Simplify complexity
• Serve generously
You navigate them by building trust, listening deeply, and showing up with curiosity, clarity, and courage, in ways that make it easier for others to do their best work.
Ngā mihi
Juno’s 2025 Navigating the unwritten rules series reinforced something simple and satisfying: people thrive when they have space to learn from each other. We are grateful for the honesty, clarity, and humour shared by our panellists and contributors. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.
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👉 Want to recap on last year’s series? Read our Building Influence insights here
