Ellen and Renee, partners at the firm, meet to review the progress of the associates in the pilot program.
Before speaking, Renee closed the door behind her.
Ellen was already seated, her jacket hanging over the back of the chair, reading on her phone. She looked up and smiled, the kind of smile that signaled we weren’t here by accident.
“You noticing it too?” Renee asked.
Ellen put her phone down. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Renee leaned against the table. “My associates are… clearer.”
Ellen nodded. “Mine too.”
Not more confident or demanding, but clearer. “They’re framing decisions,” Renee continued. “They’re naming trade-offs rather than waiting for guidance, and they’re not hedging like they used to.”
Ellen laughed. “I keep waiting for it to level off. It hasn’t.”
They sat with that for a moment.
“I expected friction,” Renee said. “Requests for more support. Some version of ‘we need more from the firm.'”
“And instead?” Ellen asked.
“And instead, they’re asking better questions,” Renee replied. “Questions I can actually answer.”
Ellen leaned back. “That’s the part that surprised me. I’m answering differently.”
Renee looked at her. “How so?”
“I’m explaining why I care about something,” Ellen said. “Not just what I want done.”
She paused. “I hadn’t realized how often I skipped that step.”
Renee smiled and said, “Me too.”
They both understood what it signified.
The pilot program wasn’t just giving associates clear expectations of what the firm expects, it was making partners communicate more explicitly.
Renee broke the silence. “This is going to bother Hal.”
Ellen gave a slight smile. “It already does.”
They exchanged a glance.
“This changes the rhythm,” Renee said. “Things take longer, but they’re… cleaner.”
“And less exhausting,” Ellen added. “I’m not carrying everything in my head anymore.”
Renee shook her head. “I didn’t realize how much.”
Neither had I.
The pilot program didn’t require them to do anything differently. No memo, directive, or training was given. It just created space where explanation wasn’t considered an indulgence.
“That’s the dangerous part. Once you start explaining, it’s hard to stop,” Ellen said softly.
Renee nodded.
They both understood what they were seeing. This wasn’t softness; the work was sharper because the communication was clearer. That was simply precision.
The work felt more focused. It was sharper. More deliberate.
“I want to keep this going,” Renee said.
Ellen nodded. “So do I.” She paused. “Let’s get through the first cohort. Get something concrete. Then we make the case.”
Renee stood there, already thinking ahead. They gathered their things and walked out together.
The pilot wasn’t just changing the associates; it was transforming the firm’s habits. Once those habits started to shift, there was nothing to defend. There was only more to build.
What none of them realized was that someone else in the building had begun to notice. And noticing, without understanding, was its own kind of problem.
The MSL Saga™, MLARD™, and the 85/15 Model™ are trademarks of Susan B. Silverman Consulting. The MSL Saga and all episodes © 2026 Susan B. Silverman Consulting. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.
