By Doug Striker bio We all know that using styles to format a Word document leads to more stable documents and efficient editing. But, are you efficiently applying styles? You can use a keyboard shortcut for any style, including built-in styles such as Normal and Heading 1, 2, etc. Some styles already have their own shortcuts, but you can change them, if you … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: How to create a keyboard shortcut for a Word Style
Managing staff
Secrecy in the age of social media: six ways to keep sensitive practice information offline
You can be sure that most of your employees are active on social media. For younger ones, in fact, using Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are as natural as breathing. According to James Pooley, author of "Secrets: Managing Information Assets in the Age of Cyberespionage," social media and the sharing culture it has sparked are very real threats to organizations. "The … [Read more...] about Secrecy in the age of social media: six ways to keep sensitive practice information offline
How to beat the workplace bully in your law office
Loss of good employees, low morale and communication breakdowns caused by office bullies are costing your law office plenty, says Dr. Lynne Curry, Regional Director of Training and Business Consulting for Avitus, a national firm with offices coast to coast According to Curry, more than 65 million American workers have either been bullied on the job or seen their coworkers … [Read more...] about How to beat the workplace bully in your law office
Orientation program sends new hires in the right direction
Staff orientation ensures a good start on the job. No matter what the work, the employer/employee relationship is made or broken in the first 90 days, says the director of administration at a 37-attorney office in California. It's during those first three months that people conclude either "I've made a good decision" or "What have I gotten myself into?" So to point new … [Read more...] about Orientation program sends new hires in the right direction
3 steps a manager must take to end harmful gossip in the workplace
By Lynne Curry bio The conversation stops when you walk into the break room. Two employees look at each other, mouth "later," and head back to their desks. An hour later, you see another employee dart into the restroom and come out five minutes later with reddened eyes. You ask her "what's up?" and when she looks like she might burst into tears, you usher her into your … [Read more...] about 3 steps a manager must take to end harmful gossip in the workplace
Failsafe solutions to 3 irritating staff behavior problems
Dealing with unacceptable staff behavior is for most managers the hardest part of the job. Here is a no-fail formula that works in all situations and instructions for how to apply it to three of the most annoying types of people. 1 The ultra-sensitive staffer who can't take criticism 2 The staffer who brings personal problems to work and tells everybody about them. 3 … [Read more...] about Failsafe solutions to 3 irritating staff behavior problems
Ensure success in your new job as administrator
As soon as you've accepted the position of law firm administrator, you need to establish expectations – what is expected of you and what you expect of others. Once those parameters are clear, you can implement any necessary changes with authority and confidence. Walking into a new job as administrator? It's hard for a newcomer administrator to know where to begin work, what … [Read more...] about Ensure success in your new job as administrator
Top 10 phishing phrases of 2018: The KnowBe4 list
By Jay Stromberg bio As you may know, Savvy is the largest reseller in the legal industry for KnowBe4 security awareness training. We are seriously proud of this partnership because of the significant security improvements that KnowBe4 has delivered to our clients. At a time when law firms are hacked into daily, this training platform is delivering quantifiable … [Read more...] about Top 10 phishing phrases of 2018: The KnowBe4 list
To-Dos: Your April office checklist
Here are a few tasks that should be addressed this month. Do a first quarter evaluation with employees who have a billing quota. Assess where they are in terms of reaching the annual goal and discuss any changes that need to be made, adjustments in procedures for capturing time or time management skills. Review the firm's profit and loss statement as it compares to the … [Read more...] about To-Dos: Your April office checklist
Inside your practice: Communicating, leading, & managing amid change
The only thing that is constant is change, said the Greek philosopher Heraclitus. And although he never managed a law practice, his words certainly apply to today's workplace. The case for transparency Change is a constant for the legal industry. Mergers, acquisitions, and new technologies—it's hard enough just to keep up let alone keep your staff apprised. Regrettably, … [Read more...] about Inside your practice: Communicating, leading, & managing amid change