Law Office Manager

David Brooks

10 tested ways to make your staff meetings more interesting and productive

A staff meeting should be a productive event that fosters collaboration; however, that’s not always the case. These ten steps will help you plan a staff meeting that results in a positive and focused gathering of ideas. Say the word “meeting” and people tend to groan. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Salary.com, which looks at where and how employees waste time, … [Read more...] about 10 tested ways to make your staff meetings more interesting and productive

Why it pays to enforce the “little” rules that your staff often ignore

It’s enforcing the little rules that spells the difference between a professional office and one that is not so professional. The seemingly minor rules are what create a culture that attracts and keeps top staff. What are they? They are the guidelines for behavior elements such as personal phone calls, dress, attitude and adhering to working hours. Violations won’t cause the … [Read more...] about Why it pays to enforce the “little” rules that your staff often ignore

How to sift through and solve staff complaints

This month’s idea comes from a consultant who is also a former medical practice manager. It’s a short and easy way to handle one staffer’s complaint about another. The starting point is to sift through the complaints to identify which ones warrant the manager’s attention and which ones staff should deal with on their own, says Cindy Fondren Muise of Peyton, CO. As a manager, … [Read more...] about How to sift through and solve staff complaints

Raffle gets staffers to monthly 8 a.m. meeting

A raffle for prizes gets each monthly meeting off to a fun start for the staff at a Finger Lakes, NY, professional office. Director of operations Eileen Szanyi says the draws are designed to increase attendance at the 8 a.m. meetings. “Those attending put their names into a basket for the month’s prizes,” she explains. “The gifts don’t have to be costly. One prize is always … [Read more...] about Raffle gets staffers to monthly 8 a.m. meeting

Work stays on desktop

Here is a rule that is valuable but is found in few offices. Staff desks are for storing personal items. All work has to stay on top of the desk. That’s a good way to ensure that nothing gets overlooked. For the manager who questions the wisdom of the rule, take a look in any desk after someone quits. It’s amazing what people find there. And much of it is costly, such as … [Read more...] about Work stays on desktop

From ready dinners to errand helpers, Georgia firm supports families

An Atlanta firm makes work life balance easier with some unusual add-ons for employees. The firm has engaged several companies that provide personal services, often at a discount. One, for example, delivers ready-to-cook meals to the office, which gives employees a quick-fix dinner to take home that isn’t fast food. Errand service There’s also an onsite concierge who is “at … [Read more...] about From ready dinners to errand helpers, Georgia firm supports families

How to write a readable memo

An office memo has only one purpose, and that is to send a message as quickly and as clearly as possible. Here’s how to do just that. • Use wide margins and spaces between the paragraphs. That makes the page easier to look at, and if it’s easy to look at, people will read it. By contrast, picture a page filled top to bottom with type. Nobody wants to wade through that. • If … [Read more...] about How to write a readable memo

Keeping the records long enough . . . but not too long

Do you know how long you are required to keep the firm’s tax records? How about any reports of on-the-job injuries? And what about e-mails? Here’s a summary of what you need to keep and for how long. Record retention raises questions in almost all offices. And because of the uncertainty, offices tend to hang onto records far too long, says attorney and record management … [Read more...] about Keeping the records long enough . . . but not too long

How to use social media marketing to pull in more clients

Social media marketing is hot hot hot. But how do you use it like the cool kids in order to market your practice? Start at the top. The top three networking sites, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, offer opportunities for spreading the word about the practice’s offerings and expertise. Network for business LinkedIn, the leading business network, is nonetheless social. What’s … [Read more...] about How to use social media marketing to pull in more clients