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
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Don’t Let Client Conflicts of Interest Get You Disbarred!
Downloadable Files: Presentation Slides From Lawyer to Law Firm Chapter 1 Notice and Waiver of Conflict of Interest Presenters: Elizabeth Miller, MBAIndependent Law Firm Administrator Robyn A. Bonivich, Esq.Founding Partner, Robyn's Law, PLLC In this 60-minute webinar recording, Elizabeth Miller and Robyn A. Bonivich will map out clear policies and … [Read more...] about Don’t Let Client Conflicts of Interest Get You Disbarred!
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
Wall Street Journal reports law firm having trouble distributing $61 million
People are so used to receiving phone calls from scam artists that the attorneys at Bailey & Glasser LLP are having trouble getting people to believe them when they call to recipients of unwanted telemarketing calls they may be eligible for large payments—$1,200 per call—as part of a $61 million verdict against DISH Network. The Wall Street Journal highlighted the dilemma … [Read more...] about Wall Street Journal reports law firm having trouble distributing $61 million
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
The engagement letter: safety comes from clarity
Six things that client needs to know An engagement letter is protection – for both firm and client. It prevents argument on what the firm is expected to do for the client and what the client is expected to do for the firm. Thus, it needs to be clear, brief, and readable. Don't give the client "a scholarly work or something that reads like an insurance policy," says … [Read more...] about The engagement letter: safety comes from clarity
24 ideas for going green at work
To help celebrate Earth Day on April 22, here are two dozen ideas for going green at work from FlexJobs, a telecommuting and flexible job site that has long promoted going green in its business practices. Take a look at these tips and then consider going green whenever possible, every day. It's easier than you might think to make every day Earth Day. Reduce or eliminate … [Read more...] about 24 ideas for going green at work
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