Optimize Workflows: Transform Contract Management in the ‘Walk Phase’

Stepping It Up in Contract Management

If you are following the Crawl > Walk > Run journey to achieve better contract management for your In-House Legal Department, then you will be reading this blog because you have already tackled the 'Crawl' phase and you’re moving on to the 'Walk' phase of contract management. 

In the Crawl phase, you focused on getting organized—clearing the chaos and building a solid repository. The Walk phase takes that foundation and applies tools and processes to make things faster, easier, and (dare we say) enjoyable.

Your legal team has now escaped the chaos of scattered documents and untracked contracts, and your contracts are centralized and you’ve (hopefully) retired the phrase, “But where is that contract?” from everyone’s vocabulary.

Now, you’re ready to walk the walk. The 'Walk' phase is the time when you optimize your contract management system by standardizing approval workflows and powering up with e-signatures. It’s the stage where manual, slow processes start to fade, and your team achieves a whole new level of collaboration and efficiency.

Sound exciting? Let’s dive into how the 'Walk' phase transforms your team’s day-to-day operations and sets the stage for faster approvals, transparent processes, and seamless execution.

Why Inefficient Workflows Hurt Contract Management

We’ve all seen it: Contracts stuck in approval limbo because no one knows where to send them next. Deadlines missed because an overstuffed inbox buried an urgent approval request. These common bottlenecks don’t just slow you down—they frustrate everyone involved and the cost your organization money in slow or lost deals, lost productivity or repetition and duplication of process.

The Problem: Approval stages can account for up to 40% of contract delays in organizations. Without a defined workflow, contracts bounce between departments aimlessly, leading to missed opportunities and strained relationships between legal and business teams.

The Solution: The antidote to approval chaos is simple: mapped workflows and automated e-signature tools. Together, they ensure clarity, speed, and fluid handoffs. Imagine never having to hear, "But I thought you were forwarding this for approval...?" from a confused colleague again. Bliss, right?

The ‘Walk Phase’: Turn Basic Contract Management into a Well-Oiled Machine

Here’s what the Walk phase is about:

1. Streamlining Approvals: By standardizing workflows, every contract moves smoothly through creation, review, and sign-off.
2. Integrating Signatures: E-signature tools eliminate the need for printing, scanning, or lengthy email chains.

The focus is on delivering what legal teams and their business stakeholders frequently desire: consistency and efficiency.

How to Succeed in the 'Walk' Phase - Streamlining Contract Approvals

Contract approvals are not about experimenting with overly complex systems. This is about implementing practical systems that reflect your internal policy or delegated authority requirements, and deliver immediate wins by automating them. Here are the three core steps:

• What does your internal policy for contract approvals require?
• Is this determined by value? Term? Specific clauses?
• Who are the stakeholders and when are they required?

Set up approval templates

• Start with simple workflows and define the key steps for approval. 
• Map these workflows out clearly in your system. 
• Using very simple templates at the beginning mean fewer errors, and spotting the errors more quickly to allow for iteration.

Designate roles 

• Be very clear who will take responsibility for approvals
• Again, allow for iteration as your team establishes new habits
• Pro Tip: Ensure your system notifies stakeholders when tasks are due. Automation is your accountability partner.

Example: Jac’s legal department faced constant friction—contract approvals sat idle for weeks, blocking deals and frustrating business leaders. After introducing standardized workflows and e-signature tools, approval times were cut by 50%! Contracts now move quickly, and team confidence is at an all-time high.

How to Succeed in the 'Walk' Phase - eSignature

A beautifully negotiated contract, happily approved by all stakeholders but sitting idle for several days because execution isn't a streamlined process? Surely not. 🤔

Ensure that your team can take an approved contract and:

• immediately push it into eSignature
• track all steps of the signature process
• automatically receive a copy of the signed document into your repository

Removing hours or days delay between each step will see this process speed up enormously!

Big Wins in the Walk Phase

Transforming your contract management process with the 'Walk' phase delivers measurable, tangible results in a short time. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Speed Up Approvals: Streamlined processes mean fewer bottlenecks and faster turnaround.
2. Clear Collaboration: Every process has an owner and a clear path forward, so no one’s left pointing fingers.
3. Delighted Stakeholders: Business teams are thrilled when contracts actually move at the speed of business.

Common Concerns and How to Tackle Them

"What if our team resists new workflows?"

Change can be scary, but the benefits should win people over. Share milestones—like dropping approval times by half—and build buy-in through success stories.

"We don’t know where to start with e-signature tools."

Easy fix! Most tools are user-friendly and offer great onboarding support. Start small with a single type of contract, like NDAs, to work out the kinks.

"We’re worried workflows will slow us down at first."

Any new system takes some adjustment, but once workflows are in place, the time savings are undeniable.

Looking Ahead: From 'Walking' to 'Running'

Once the 'Walk' phase is in full swing, the real magic begins. The 'Run' phase is where automation steps in, taking routine contracts off your plate and letting your legal team focus on the complex, high-value work they were born to do.

Ready to Elevate Your Contract Management? Download the White Paper!

The 'Walk' phase connects the dots between organized chaos and high-performance workflows. Want to go even deeper into how the ‘Crawl > Walk > Run’ framework transforms legal teams? Our white paper breaks down each phase with actionable tips, case studies, and ready-to-implement solutions.