By Bob Denney bio As in all our previous annual reports and midyear updates, this report is based on information my colleagues and I continually gather from many sources —law firms, other providers of legal services, legal departments, surveys and both the legal and general press. Some of our findings are obvious, while others are not but we believe they may become … [Read more...] about What’s hot and what’s not: A midyear update on the legal profession
Your career
8 Traps to Avoid When Investigating a Sexual Harassment Complaint
Sexual harassment is a related problem that all employers must proactively address and prevent. While most managers are well aware of the need for sexual harassment policies, just having a policy isn't enough. If sexual harassment allegations arise, you need to know how to appropriately respond. Here are 8 potential mistakes your practice should be alert to and avoid making … [Read more...] about 8 Traps to Avoid When Investigating a Sexual Harassment Complaint
Discrimination at work: Prevalent yet subtle workplace bias erodes productivity and engagement
A recent study by VitalSmarts, a Top 20 Leadership Training Company, has found that more than a quarter (27 percent) of those who experience discrimination at work report the bias to be common, impactful, and beyond their ability to manage. The result of this triple threat of factors leads to frustration, stress, depression, and helplessness on the job. To measure the impact … [Read more...] about Discrimination at work: Prevalent yet subtle workplace bias erodes productivity and engagement
How to start a new job as the firm’s manager, not just as its top staffer
Advice to the new administrator: "The first few weeks of the job are very, very important and you have to use them well because you can't get them back." Using them well means establishing a professional management relationship with the partners, finding out what the partners expect of their administrator, and showing staff what's expected of them, says attorney T. Hensley … [Read more...] about How to start a new job as the firm’s manager, not just as its top staffer
Want to retain your top employees? Look to your exit interviews
According to the Employee Retention Report published by Work Institute, a leader in workforce intelligence, research and consulting, over 75% of the reasons employees leave their jobs could have been prevented by their employer. The recently released report reveals the truth about the employee marketplace, separates fact from fiction when it comes to why employees leave their … [Read more...] about Want to retain your top employees? Look to your exit interviews
5 ways to end generational stereotyping in your organization
By Dr. William A. Schiemann bio These days, the Millennial Generation is hyped, perhaps even more than Baby Boomers were hyped in the 1950s and 1960s. As I meet with executives around the globe, there is widespread confusion and misunderstanding about generational differences. This is creating stereotypes that are inappropriate, rarely true, and costing … [Read more...] about 5 ways to end generational stereotyping in your organization
What we’re overlooking when it comes to time management
By Brady Wilson bio Many times, I've seen business leaders send their employees off to time management courses in the hopes that the training will help increase engagement and productivity. Many times, I've seen those same leaders show bewilderment when the training doesn't seem to have any impact—or worse yet, results in employees being less engaged and less … [Read more...] about What we’re overlooking when it comes to time management
Growing your law firm with a carefully crafted blog
By Brenda A. Barnes bio First, there were firm newsletters. Law firms sent them out as a way to build community among existing and prospective clients. They were a branding tool that also fostered loyalty. Then, the internet accelerated that formula, allowing law firms to not only save money on print and mailing, but also push this content marketing vehicle out … [Read more...] about Growing your law firm with a carefully crafted blog
A dozen bugaboo words to cogitate
Here are a dozen words that get mispronounced and misused so much that the wrong form can sound as good as the right one. Aesthetic. There's a th in the middle, so it's pronounced as-THE-tic. It's not as-TE-tic. Height. It doesn't have a th at the end. A box may have length, width, breadth, and depth, but it doesn't have heighth. It just has height. Asterisk. Keep the … [Read more...] about A dozen bugaboo words to cogitate
Why your latest management decision failed
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