Top ten Things that Exhausted Me in 2009: Having to carry that ol’ imaginary shovel around b/c of all the phoniness and BS in this ol’ world Folks who are always late and who apologize (again and again) for their tardiness without any intention of acting on their empty apologies Veneer people – no substance – the only thing that’s real is their fakeness (including...

Just found a fairly quick reading and thought-provoking article on evaluating our stress styles on Kat Tansey’s blog titled: What’s your Stress Style: Hamster, Salmon, or Cat? . After reading this, I can honestly say that for years now I have been striving to be more like the cat described in this article….although if I’m not careful, I can find myself all too quickly...

Click here for one of my articles on these two runaway problems in today’s law firms and other offices.  Workplace bullying and verbal violence poison (dilute at best) any other steps taken to reduce office stress and they are serious productivity and morale thieves.  Sadly, too many leaders allow these destructive behaviors to continue without any efforts to stop them. It doesn’t...

This holiday season I’ve spent a good bit of time in hospitals and at doctor’s appointments with my Mother, a true angel on earth if there ever was one!   While I never want her to hurt or be ill, any time I can spend with her or help her is a gift indeed, an honor and a blessing.  All too many folks no longer have their parents physically around to share a moment, a smile, a hug....

By clicking here, you’ll pull up a copy of one of my articles on effective law firm leadership  – an often talked about subject, but not as often practiced.  This article also includes my simplistic self-audit for privately evaluating our own leadership characteristics.  And, I suggest an easy way to immediately start honing any leadership skills that you may need to work on. ...

Now’s the time to take a deep breath and re-look at our holiday pace, our actions and as painful as it may be…our attitudes. (1)  How do we feel…happy, relaxed or totally overwhelmed, bleary eyed and sleep deprived, no time to think? (2)  Is part of this because we aren’t making the time for our normal exercise breaks, healthy eating and just pure decompression...

Gotta get vent a bit about one of my pet peeves in the professional office.  I cringe when calling a professional business, doctor’s office, law firm, etc. only to hear voice mail messages by receptionists or female assistants that appear to have intentional sexual drippings….you know the ever-so–soft, ssslllooooowww, melodic, sometimes raspy female voice. Sorry if I sound...

Many things can bring workplace morale spiraling downward.  Some all-too-common Morale Busters in law offices (and other offices as well)  include: Rules applied sporadically and unfairly among employees (e.g. starting time, length of lunch breaks, # of vacation days) An ongoing frantic pace — day after day — caused primarily by a supervisor’s poor planning and organizational...