Highfive, the video conferencing system, recently announced the results of its 2015 Workplace Culture and Communication Report, which details how the proliferation of communication tools affects the way people work and engage with their fellow employees. More than 1,200 professionals in traditional office settings across industries and regions completed the survey in August … [Read more...] about Communication and productivity are on the rise. But the tools that connect us also distract us
Managing staff
5 proven ways to spot and avoid hiring potentially “toxic employees” … and what to do if you already have them
Got toxins in the office? Toxins are people who cause dissent. They undermine people. They create an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion. They kill the camaraderie. They are toxic because they cause enough misery to force worthwhile staffers to leave. Law firms are notorious for putting up with toxic people at both the attorney and staff levels. Professional people are not … [Read more...] about 5 proven ways to spot and avoid hiring potentially “toxic employees” … and what to do if you already have them
NY manager gets more done with 15 minute one-on-one meetings
Offices with a limited number of staffers can follow the management lead of a New York office manager who has replaced full-staff meetings with 15-minute individual meetings in which she talks with each person privately. In a group, not everything gets brought out, says the manager, which has just seven staffers. There is no opportunity to listen to each person. What's more, … [Read more...] about NY manager gets more done with 15 minute one-on-one meetings
12 common errors in English you’ll want to avoid
Errors in your writing reflect poorly on you—and on the legal practice. Even if English wasn't your best subject, it's not too late to brush up on the basics. Here are 12 common errors you'll want to avoid. 1. You're/your You're is a contraction, short for "you are." Your is a possessive pronoun, as in "It's your birthday." Quick check: Can you substitute "you are"? … [Read more...] about 12 common errors in English you’ll want to avoid
How to survive the coming competition
By Ron Friedmann bio Many in the legal market talk about a "New Normal" where margin pressure is the norm. Is this true, and does it matter? Yes, and here's why. Clients Want Value. Although BigLaw continues to prosper, it faces new competition. Clients want value and they now have market power, so they buy from alternatives to large firms. Clients Bring Work … [Read more...] about How to survive the coming competition
How document automation can save you thousands
Does your firm use document automation tools? If not, you’re not alone. According to a survey conducted in 2013 by the International Legal Technology Association, a whopping 62% of law firms surveyed reported not using a document automation system. But when you think about how much time your team spends assembling variations of the same documents every day, automating the … [Read more...] about How document automation can save you thousands
Seven guides for a safe and somewhat pleasant firing
Firing is the most dangerous action a manager ever takes. "Yet almost everybody does it poorly," says Joseph Godwin, a management consultant with F&H Solutions Group, a human resources consulting firm in Asheville, NC. Any fired employee is depressed and fearful of the future—and not averse to calling an attorney. Every manager needs to know how to fire without asking … [Read more...] about Seven guides for a safe and somewhat pleasant firing
90 minutes of unpaid time off ends a bookkeeping nightmare
A Kentucky office manager has devised a method to control time off, focusing on making the paperwork easier. Keeping track of 45-minute appointments or an hour of personal leave is a bookkeeping nightmare, says the administrator, whose office has 26 staff. So she combined vacation, sick, and personal leave into a single pool of paid time off and made it a rule that the time … [Read more...] about 90 minutes of unpaid time off ends a bookkeeping nightmare
Make sure your staff follow these 5 basic rules when dealing with clients or employees with disabilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act does not require it, but good manners do—proper etiquette toward persons with disabilities, both clients and employees. Mistakes in manners often occur in professional offices. Here are some of the more common blunders to watch for: 1 The handshake A common error is not offering to shake hands with a client or employee who has a hand … [Read more...] about Make sure your staff follow these 5 basic rules when dealing with clients or employees with disabilities
The importance of making your expectations clear
By Steve M. Cohen bio Many employees at all levels are guilty of taking their positions for granted. As a manager, it's something you should be on the look out for, even in your own work. Even in a healthy job market, the attitude can be costly. I was once involved in a case with an employee who had an $80,000 a year position. The individual had been employed for … [Read more...] about The importance of making your expectations clear