"I'm getting an ulcer dealing with these people!" That's the lament of many a manager and it comes from a traditional office practice. It is the result of the standard once-a-year evaluation that winds up as a litany of each staffer's faults and proves worthless for improving performance. Beyond its ineffectiveness, the annual appraisal is not fair because the staffer has not … [Read more...] about Quarterly “four column” reviews to improve staff performance and reduce manager stress
Managing staff
Specific acknowledgement and specific recognition create a happy, productive staff
What's the one element that makes people pleased to come to work every day? Appreciation from the boss. Appreciation is so important that the Department of Labor cites lack of it as the #1 reason people leave their jobs, says attorney and business coach Nora Riva Bergman of Real Life Practice in Tarpon Springs, Fl. And appreciation goes a long way, because it gets staff … [Read more...] about Specific acknowledgement and specific recognition create a happy, productive staff
Easy ways to make your law office healthier
Too often, law offices not only fail to promote staff health and well-being, they might actually detract from it. Why does it matter? A healthy workplace encourages staff engagement and productivity, which has a direct impact on the profitability of the practice. To evaluate your workplace, and make necessary improvements, take a close look at the following. Office … [Read more...] about Easy ways to make your law office healthier
Easy-to-use interview system guarantees a good match between secretary and attorney
For secretarial interviews, an Ohio administrator uses the approach that includes everything—attorney input, staff input and even observations from the receptionist. At the 25-attorrney firm in Dayton, the administrator set up the system not only to make sure the applicant is qualified for the job but also to evaluate how well the secretary will work with the attorney and … [Read more...] about Easy-to-use interview system guarantees a good match between secretary and attorney
What’s the ‘employee experience’ like at your law firm?
Professionals have been talking about the customer experience and the candidate experience for years, so it was bound to happen. Another term is now being batted around in human resource and management circles: the employee experience. Before you dismiss it as another buzz term or, worse, a fad, consider the implications of ignoring this crucial aspect of managing your law … [Read more...] about What’s the ‘employee experience’ like at your law firm?
Matching your management style to your employee’s personality
Much like one bad apple, one bad employee can spoil the whole bunch in your office, says Dr. Steve Cohen, Principal, Lead HR Consultant at HR Solutions On-Call. Cohen, who is often described as a "mess management" expert for his ability to solve people problems for vulnerable organizations, says the typical job is always built on the issue of technical skills, but … [Read more...] about Matching your management style to your employee’s personality
How to handle same-sex office romances
Question: Two women who work at our office have recently become romantically involved—with each other. My problem isn't with the fact that they are both women, but that they are coworkers. How should I handle the situation? Answer: Workplace romance is a difficult topic for a manager to broach because it seems as if it's an intrusion on employees' personal lives. On the other … [Read more...] about How to handle same-sex office romances
To-Dos: Your February office checklist
February might be a short month, but there's a lot packed into it. Here are 7 areas you can tackle this month to help improve profits, protect the firm, and boost morale. 1. Review each department's revenues. By now the profit and loss statement for 2022 is in. Review the gross revenues of the firm and the revenues for each department if the firm practices in more than … [Read more...] about To-Dos: Your February office checklist
Communication DOs and DON’Ts
Managers still spend a great deal of time communicating face to face, despite the proliferation of technology. However, because of technology, verbal communication skills sometimes take a backseat to written communication skills. Nevertheless, how you say something can be as important as what you say. With this in mind, here are communication DOs and DON'Ts. DO Make sure … [Read more...] about Communication DOs and DON’Ts
4 ethics rules your staff might be violating
It's not just attorneys in your office who have to follow the rules of ethics. Your staff members have to follow them, too. It doesn't matter where the violation comes from, says law management consultant Jan Henderson of RJH Consulting in Jackson Hole, WY. What governs is the rule of respondeat superior, or "let the master answer." The employer is held accountable for the … [Read more...] about 4 ethics rules your staff might be violating