Archive | Managing Employees

Directness

No one has ever accused me of “beating around the bush” or being coy. If I say something, there is never any doubt about what I mean and where the other person stands. My employees have sometimes bristled from the feedback I have provided about their poor quality work, even though they have been told […]

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Melissa’s comments are very direct in this post, as they are in her everyday communications. And, while she mentions employee errors, she is also very direct when employees are doing things right. That is, she reinforces their good performance and provides direct praise. And, there is also a need to point out that, while she […]

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Starting out: Use your connections & contacts

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 18, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Trial Consulting

Sometimes, following the theme of my recent posts, using what you’ve got involves who you know. Again, it may seem unfair, but that is the way of the world. And, it is no secret that who you know is critical to success in getting a job, selling your services/products, and in many other ways. One […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 18, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Trial Consulting

When David and I started Magnus Research Consultants in 1993, we literally knocked on the doors of anyone and everyone who would meet with us. I am lucky to be from a small town, Fort Myers, Florida and my family has been there since the 1920s. In Fort Myers, my last name has always given […]

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What if you don’t have “it”?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 11, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business

In writing the post on using what you’ve got, I left off with, what if you are unattractive (or some other special something) and don’t have that advantage? We’ve interviewed hundreds of job candidates in the past 20+ years, some of whom have not been attractive. Yet, we have hired some of them and not […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 11, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business

Because ratings of attractiveness are, for the most part, universally accepted within one’s culture, it follows that most people also recognize the traits of unattractiveness. In addition, social psychological research has revealed most people are adept at rating themselves on the attractiveness continuum, such that, if one has a mirror, his/her self perceptions are usually […]

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When to keep quiet

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 9, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

As my late mother used to say, “If you can’t say anything nice about someone (or something), don’t say anything at all.” As a very opinionated person, I have often had difficulty following this motto; however, there are times when the reprehensible behavior, outlandish conduct, or unbelievably stupid comment of someone renders me with nothing […]

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Building on what Melissa has written, I am thinking of the old adage, “better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt,” except in this analysis, it would “better to avoid a confrontation than to open your mouth and get into one!” It has been interesting to observe over […]

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Use what you’ve got

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 4, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business

Okay, from the outset I will insert this disclaimer. This post could be a bit controversial or seen as sexist or perhaps otherwise “unfair” – but it isn’t, and should be read with an open mind. Now to get to the issue. We all need to use what we’ve got (or have been given in […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 4, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business

David’s topic is controversial, however, the relationship between physical attractiveness and attributions has been the subject of social psychological research for many decades. There are countless social psychological studies that reveal a positive correlation between ratings of physical attractiveness and perceived personality traits, summarized as “what is beautiful is good.” This research has also revealed […]

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Everyone has a boss. Clients = Many Bosses

Almost everyone who works for a living has a boss. Although I am the boss at my workplace, I have many, many bosses, the attorneys, insurance adjusters, and corporate representatives who hire my company and me to help them with their challenging litigation. Often, I must adjust my plans and work schedule to suit one […]

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“Be your own boss.” That’s the supposed appeal of owning a business. But, it is a very flawed observation about owning/operating a business. Whether the business is small or large, the customers, or clients in a service business, are the bosses. And in a service business, more than a product based business, the owner(s) must […]

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Loud is good, except when I want quiet

Loud, for me, is good. I have a shirt that says so! I am not afraid of loud music and other happy loud sounds, including cars, boats, and motorcycles. However, when I am working, particularly on something that requires concentration, I must work in absolute silence. I do not allow anyone who works for me […]

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Thankfully, Melissa’s and my offices are situated such that we have the ability to close the door to reduce distractions. But, noisy distractions can transcend doors, windows and walls. Leaf blowers and weed eaters are big offenders. Maintaining focus on technical, detailed work requires concentration beyond what school requires and as such, we have had […]

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Isn’t this stuff just common sense? Part 1 – Small Business

It occurs to me that some of the topics we are writing about may seem like common sense.  But, I can assure you, as someone with an MBA and undergrad degrees in business (marketing and management) that running a small business is, first of all, not taught (or taught well) in school and second, until […]

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Most people I know have never, ever owned and operated a business. Having worked for other people for 20 years prior to co-owning Magnus Research Consultants, I am well aware of the numerous and vast differences between working for someone else, collecting a paycheck regardless of the company’s (or government agency’s) financial performance, and working […]

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Parties

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 19, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees

I love parties! I love to party! I love loud party music! I love party decorations! I love party food and drinks! I grew up in a family who celebrated every occasion, usually with a party or special dinner. We decorated the house with all kinds of fun things, often involving a theme, to mark […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 19, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees

I’m there too – at the parties, I mean. I had a particularly fun loving grandmother that made any event more fun that normal – birthdays, Christmas, etc. And I have many fond memories of particular details from parties – like the time our gruff neighbor Ron showed up for a tea party wearing a […]

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Employee Quitting Costs

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 16, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

Employee turnover is a fact of life in business. Some of it is good; some of it is not good. Employees move on for many reasons, including better jobs, more money, furthering their education, geographic relocation, and other reasons. And, other employees are “encouraged” to leave – i.e., are terminated, for performance or other reasons. […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 16, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

The primary job for which my company needs employees is an entry level position requiring a college degree in psychology or another social science. Because my partner and I hire people soon upon their college graduation, their job at Magnus is often the first professional job they have ever had. Furthermore, because we hire only […]

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