Motivation isn't a matter of money. It's a matter of management, says business and leadership coach Monica Wofford of Contagious Companies in Orlando, FL. Here she lists five good motivators that are within reach of any administrator, regardless of the payroll budget. Fit the person to the job Find out what each staffer's skills and interests are and make an effort to align … [Read more...] about 5 proven ways to motivate your staff without spending money
Managing staff
Setting up new employees for long-term success
By Piyush Patel bio So you've finally found the perfect candidate to fill that role. You've spent endless hours reviewing resumes, conducting interviews, and now you've found a great person who is ready to join your team. Now you need a plan on how to get them set up, trained, and assimilated into the company—a process known as onboarding. While holding a basic … [Read more...] about Setting up new employees for long-term success
8 quick ways to improve communication with your staff
Only a great communicator can be a great manager. Here are eight rules for communicating well with staff. 1 Give reasons Always give complete information on decisions that affect staff. If there's no reason given for some new requirement, don't expect people to get behind it and support it. They start second guessing the why of it, and that second guess is apt to be negative. … [Read more...] about 8 quick ways to improve communication with your staff
Being a great leader by applying what I’ve learned as a mother
By Abby Curnow-Chavez bio With Mother's Day just behind us, I've been thinking about the connection between motherhood and my other "job" – not the one of mom to teenage boys, but my work as a leadership consultant and executive coach. As parents, we are "leading leaders" and just like leaders in business, shifting from parenting to "leading leaders" requires an adjustment … [Read more...] about Being a great leader by applying what I’ve learned as a mother
Psychology to use when presenting a staff complaint to a partner
Any complaint from a staffer about a boss is unpleasant to address. But when the alleged culprit is a partner, the situation can get grim. Confronting the partner could put the administrator in a job-threatening position. "It's a touchy situation," says Linnda Durre, PhD, a business consultant and corporate trainer in Winter Park, FL. Durre is also author of Surviving the … [Read more...] about Psychology to use when presenting a staff complaint to a partner
17 benefits that employees like and the firm can afford
A dilemma almost every administrator faces today is how to provide worthwhile staff benefits in an economy that doesn't allow for extra expense. So we researched the benefits that legal offices, as well as other types of businesses, are offering. Some are astounding. Google, for example, provides free haircuts, financial assistance for adoption, free gourmet lunches, and an … [Read more...] about 17 benefits that employees like and the firm can afford
How I use disagreements to build stronger teams
By Audrey Epstein bio Because I facilitate team sessions for a living, I've seen lots of team interactions—all kinds of drama, some shouting and tears, but also lots of laughter, joy, and bold action. Much about teamwork has been researched, dissected, and discussed. Yet lately, I've been thinking a lot about an unexplored topic: how to get team members to … [Read more...] about How I use disagreements to build stronger teams
Don’t turn your employee awards into an office morale disaster
Done right, an employee-of-the-year award can be an effective productivity and teamwork promoter. Done poorly, it can be a morale disaster. The cautions are many. Don't make the award a surprise and don't award it without setting specific criteria for winning. Here are helpful instructions for making an employee award program a success. Whatever the office wants … [Read more...] about Don’t turn your employee awards into an office morale disaster
The Tax Man Emaileth
By Doug Striker bio You know that old saying, "The only guarantees in life are death and taxes?" To that pithy, depressing phrase, I'd like to add "death, taxes, and phishing." Yes, I believe that phishing is and will be forever a part of our human experience because criminals know we are suckers. And no matter how many people I can train and turn into savvy, … [Read more...] about The Tax Man Emaileth
Telecommuters not working out? It’s not the flexibility that’s the problem; it’s your training program
Are you seeing a surge in low morale and unproductivity among your remote workers? Research suggests that it may be your lack of strategy and training that's to blame, not the flexibility. According to new national research from the Flex+Strategy Group (FSG), major corporations such as IBM may have gotten it wrong when they cited remote work as a barrier to innovation and … [Read more...] about Telecommuters not working out? It’s not the flexibility that’s the problem; it’s your training program