One of the biggest challenges for a General Counsel is staying on top of what your team is working on—without overwhelming them with constant check-ins or complex reporting. In any given week, your team members juggle multiple responsibilities, often managing matters that arise unexpectedly and don’t always make their way to the GC’s desk. While the GC need not know everything their team is doing at any given time, it is important to have a high-level understanding of priorities, projects, and outcomes.
Too many trackers and check-ins can overwhelm both the GC and the team, often doing more harm than good. Several years ago, I learned about a system from my colleague, Jennifer Lee, SVP, General Counsel, Secretary & Chief Compliance at Sidara Collaborative, who shared a system she used with her team. It seemed to strike the perfect balance between staying informed and keeping things simple: the weekly “Top 5” report.
How It Works: The Top 5 Template
Every Friday, each team member completes a straightforward report broken into three sections:
Top 5 priorities you worked on this week: This provides insight into their key tasks, whether it's closing a major contract, handling a compliance issue, or managing litigation. It offers a snapshot of their most critical contributions—without suggesting they aren’t working on other matters.
Top 5 priorities for next week: This helps the team plan ahead and align their focus with broader legal and business objectives. It offers clarity on where to direct energy for the week ahead and gives the GC foresight into potential roadblocks or key deliverables.
How you did on last week’s top 5 priorities: Accountability is key. This section allows the team to reflect on their progress. It’s an opportunity for feedback and adjustments—without micromanagement—and recognizes that plans may shift due to urgent new tasks. Taking a moment at the end of each week to reflect on work you did not get to can help you plan for the next week’s priorities.
Why It Works
This approach has several benefits:
Simplicity: It’s quick to fill out, so it doesn’t add stress to the team’s already busy schedule. The template is straightforward, with no need for elaborate explanations or long-form reports.
Snapshot of Key Priorities: As GC, I don’t need to know every little thing my team handles. What’s most useful is seeing their big-picture priorities and understanding how they’re contributing to larger business goals.
Empowerment: By having team members identify and report their top 5 priorities, they take ownership of their work and learn to focus on what really matters. It also encourages them to develop strategic thinking about their workload rather than getting caught up in day-to-day tasks.
Forward Planning: The next-week section of the report fosters proactive planning, allowing both the team and GC to anticipate future challenges and opportunities. This reduces the likelihood of last-minute surprises and ensures the team is working towards long-term objectives.
Keeping It Light, But Effective
What I appreciate most about this format is that it doesn’t burden the team with excessive reporting, yet it provides enough information to stay engaged with their progress. It also opens the door for easy, constructive conversations when priorities need adjusting. Additionally, it allows me to support my team’s goals and identify collaboration opportunities across departments—particularly in my role overseeing legal, risk, and compliance, where teams often work on overlapping issues from different perspectives.
The Top 5 report isn’t just about tracking tasks; it’s about maintaining a rhythm that allows the legal team to work efficiently, while providing the GC with insights to lead strategically. It’s the perfect way to stay connected to the team’s efforts without them feeling like they’re under a microscope.
If you’re looking for a simple, effective way to track what your team is working on without overwhelming them—or yourself—I highly recommend trying this approach. Please feel free to reach out if you’d like to discuss or offer suggestions about how to enhance this process. Thank you Jennifer - I implemented it with my team a few years ago and I am about to implement it with my new team in the next few weeks.
Founder, Ready Set GC
General Counsel, Gateway Foundation, Inc.
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