When making significant decisions, have you noticed how difficult it is to come to a rational decision, even with a mastery of facts and employing logical thinking? Have you noticed that at every step of the process, there are players who push back, so that even the most obvious decisions become tortured? What's going on here? Did you ignore the social space? According to … [Read more...] about Why your latest management decision failed
Managing staff
The heat is on: Six in 10 employees report increased work stress
Are your employees having trouble "keeping calm and carrying on" at work? If so, they're in the majority. More than half (52 percent) of workers said they are stressed at work on a day-to-day basis, and 60 percent reported work-related pressure has increased in the last five years, according to a new survey by staffing firm Accountemps. Their concerns are not lost on … [Read more...] about The heat is on: Six in 10 employees report increased work stress
Accountability and your legal staff: The effects on your law practice
By Elizabeth M. Miller, MBA bio I am a great proponent of accountability for everyone in a law firm including myself and the attorneys. It is the method by which a law firm can measure that clients are receiving the best possible service from your firm. An accountable law firm starts with leaders who first hold themselves accountable. After all, we do have to lead by … [Read more...] about Accountability and your legal staff: The effects on your law practice
6 ways to keep or lose a good hire
Offices expend great effort finding the right hires. But what they too often fail to see is that the success of all new employees "is dependent on how the manager handles and treats them," says speaker and trainer Charlyne Meinhard of Next Level Consulting, a staff management consulting company in Richmond, VA. It's the little things a manager does "every single day" that … [Read more...] about 6 ways to keep or lose a good hire
Reward good employees by removing bad ones
By Steve M. Cohen bio I'm sure you've seen advice regarding employee bonuses and incentive systems, including some that are quite complex. The idea is that to achieve a high-performance workplace, you need to motivate employees and achieve maximum efficiency. None of this is wrong, but I often suggest another strategy that surprises a lot of people: get rid of the … [Read more...] about Reward good employees by removing bad ones
Has entry–level law firm recruiting peaked?
The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) has released its annual Perspectives on 2016 Law Student Recruiting report, showing that entry-level law firm recruiting remained robust, although flat compared to last year. The lack of additional growth after consistent increases over the last several years suggests that recruiting volumes may have peaked after a marked … [Read more...] about Has entry–level law firm recruiting peaked?
16 quick ideas to make you a better manager
1. Reduce the interruptions. During busy times, move the chair around so the back is to the door. People hesitate to interrupt when they can't make immediate eye contact with the administrator. Stand up when people come on and stay standing. As long as the administrator is standing, the visitor won't start up a long conversation. Put a few books in the visitor's chair so … [Read more...] about 16 quick ideas to make you a better manager
Watch out for resume fraud
By Lynne Curry, Ph.D, SPHR bio The new business manager you hired—the one with the terrific resume and reference? It turns out she never worked for the employers named on the resume or knew the supervisors listed as references—despite the glowing recommendations they wrote for her. Instead, she paid for a legitimate-appearing, completely phony resume and … [Read more...] about Watch out for resume fraud
The skill your employees think you’re lacking and how you can do better
Strong communication skills are necessary at every career stage, but especially for those in leadership positions. In a new study from Robert Half Management Resources, however, nearly one in three workers (30 percent) did not give their boss high marks in this area, reporting communication and diplomacy are where their managers most need improvement. Greater technical … [Read more...] about The skill your employees think you’re lacking and how you can do better
How to spot the employees about to quit and how to change their minds
A new study, Why Do Workers Quit?, conducted by Glassdoor Economic Research, finds employees that stagnate in a job too long are more likely to leave their employers rather than move to a new role within the company. The economic research arm of Glassdoor looked at more than 5,000 job transitions¹ from resumes submitted to the site and combined that data with company … [Read more...] about How to spot the employees about to quit and how to change their minds