Perhaps the most difficult part of being a manager is talking to an employee about poor performance. No manager enjoys the confrontation. But poor performance will continue and likely worsen if left unaddressed. Here's an outline of how to take on that most unpleasant job. It's explained by JoAn Majors, a speaker on people skills. Majors is also author of the book, "Encourage … [Read more...] about How to get poor performers to commit to improved behavior—without confrontation
Managing staff
Like a Boss: Talent and playing to your strengths
By Michelle Spencer bio This is the second in my infographics series to help illustrate why good leadership is so important to law firms and how you can create strong leaders on your team. In my earlier infographic, I highlighted the costs of bad management and the important role a boss plays in employee satisfaction. For this infographic, I collected … [Read more...] about Like a Boss: Talent and playing to your strengths
Are you managing your staff or are you mentoring them?
Good managers manage. If this seems like an obvious statement, consider the many areas of the practice you manage: client scheduling, billing and collections, purchasing and leasing, office technology, and others. You also manage a staff. If this, too, seems obvious, ask yourself a question: Have you ever taken the time to think about what "managing a staff" means? Ideally, … [Read more...] about Are you managing your staff or are you mentoring them?
Schedule employee vacations for maximum efficiency and minimum conflict
Ah, vacation. A time synonymous with sun, fun, and relaxation—unless of course you're the manager of a busy legal practice trying to create the office vacation schedule. Yes, staff members need, want, and okay, deserve time off, but how do you plan for vacations without adding stress to your calendar and causing employee conflict? Granting time off How much time off employees … [Read more...] about Schedule employee vacations for maximum efficiency and minimum conflict
Five employment law questions that crop up in just about every office
Here are five employment law questions on five unrelated topics. They are answered by attorney and employee relations consultant Jodi Eisenstadt. 1. To tell or not to tell How should the manager respond when a staffer brings in information about a legal violation in the office and asks the manager not to tell anybody? That's a common problem for managers who have come up … [Read more...] about Five employment law questions that crop up in just about every office
Make your job easier by delegating more
To be an effective manager, learn the art of letting go. Learn how to delegate. Without delegation, any manager ends up doing everybody else's job and drowning in the work. But just as bad, staff never grow beyond the basics of their jobs. They never develop a sense of pride in their work, and they never experience a challenge. All they can do is become passive clones. Good … [Read more...] about Make your job easier by delegating more
Turn best practices into office policy
By Dr. Steve M. Cohen At first glance, practice and policy may seem similar enough not to warrant investigation. Time is usually a premium in any organization, and what difference does it make if an employee's action strays from office practice or policy? It's the same problem, right? Wrong! Very wrong. Organizations that don't clearly define and disseminate practices and … [Read more...] about Turn best practices into office policy
5 purchasing tips that can save your law firm money
Cutting purchasing costs doesn't have to be difficult. Here are five approaches to purchasing your firm should consider. 1. Join other offices and take advantage of group discounts. Because the group represents a lot of business, the group can tell a vendor it will use it exclusively in exchange for an overall, sizeable discount. The group can also get individual discounts on … [Read more...] about 5 purchasing tips that can save your law firm money
Like a Boss: The High Cost of Bad Management
By Michelle Spencer bio Bosses have the greatest effect on an employee's satisfaction with their job, and employee turnover incurs considerable hard and soft costs. This has great significance for law firms, where many attorneys lead legal teams, and there is a high percentage of bosses. Management in law offices need to be especially mindful of these webs of unofficial … [Read more...] about Like a Boss: The High Cost of Bad Management
Want to build a creative, innovative, and quality team in your workplace? Columbia Business School study recommends diversity
The current outcry for more diversity in the entertainment industry has fueled interest in how to increase diversity in the workplace. Amidst the ongoing backlash facing the 2016 Oscar awards for a lack of diversity in nominees and voting members, ABC television recently announced that it has promoted the first African-American to oversee a major broadcast network in the United … [Read more...] about Want to build a creative, innovative, and quality team in your workplace? Columbia Business School study recommends diversity