Archive | Partnerships

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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Sexism is alive but not well: Part 2

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 12, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

In a recent post, I wrote about my friends’ shock and dismay over my attendance at a rock concert with a male friend of mine, after which I spent the night in his home (located in the same town as the concert, and several hours from my home). In this post, I will describe the […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 12, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

I wasn’t there – that point is now well established! But, I can visualize the scene. And, I don’t know whether jealousy was a part of it, because Fifi has been on some dates with Freddie. But, my attendance at this concert had never been a part of the discussion so why was it assumed […]

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Sexism is alive, but not well: Part 1

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 5, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

Recently, I had the honor and privilege to be able to attend a rock concert (a 12 hour festival involving 15 bands!) with one of my best friends, a wonderful man I have known over 50 years, since we were in first grade together. The concert was held in my hometown, Fort Myers, requiring me […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 5, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

Sexism, like racism, takes many forms. This scenario is clearly sexist in that, if 2 men or 2 women attend an event together, no one gives it a 2nd thought, but if 2 people of opposite genders do, red flags go up for some people. But, why? In a business setting, co workers are often […]

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Cats, dogs, and other animals

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 24, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

I am an animal lover. I like all kinds of animals, particularly cats. I like dogs too, but I really like cats. I have always liked cats and I have almost always liked most cats more than most people. Believe me, if you were a social psychologist who has devoted an entire career to conducting […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 24, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

I passed the “Ziggy test” when I first met Melissa or else I would not be writing this. Her cat, Ziggy, had to approve of me – and apparently he did, even though he occasionally bit the hand that fed him – mine. But while I may not consider someone’s affinity for animals or pets, […]

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When life gets in the way of work.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 12, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

Many Americans tend to be driven to work hard and often put work ahead of everything else.  We are unique in the world in this way and, while some of the drive is probably unavoidable to be able to afford to buy food and shelter, even those for whom survival is not an issue are […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 12, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

As John Lennon famously wrote, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” (from “Beautiful Boy”). I interpret this song lyric to mean that, regardless of what I may have planned, sometimes, life will get in the way. There are many dimensions to life, one of which is work. As much […]

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Intervene – get involved

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 19, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

You never know what will happen right in front of your eyes, or ears.  Sometimes you have to, or should, get involved in something, even if you do not know what you are in for or are not completely sure what is going on.  Melissa and I went home for lunch one day, a fairly […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 19, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

I am a social psychologist who is well versed on research pertaining to bystander apathy and bystander intervention. Because of my psychological training and expertise, I intervene in ambiguous situations more often than the average person. Sometimes, however, a situation rises to a level well beyond ambiguity, to the point that failing to render aid, […]

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Don’t push your luck; stop driving and have a pizza

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 22, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Travel, Work-Life

There are times when your goal or destination seem so close that you just want to press on even when you should not. The experience that prompted this post was driving back from Jacksonville to South Florida. This trip usually takes 5 hours or less but on this particular day, progress was slow and we […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 22, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Travel, Work-Life

Many years ago, Magnus consulted on a case involving a terrible airplane crash in which hundreds of people were killed. The crash was primarily the result of pilot error, more specifically, the pilot’s decision to “press on” with the flight despite weather conditions that made flying dangerous. Although there were several safe alternatives the pilot […]

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Can you Trust anyone?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 8, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

In small businesses, as in life, it is important to consider whether you can trust a person.  The people around the business may be employees, clients, or vendors and each relationship is unique.  And, as important as trust is, when it is violated there are repercussions, sometimes expensive ones.  We have certainly had more than […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 8, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

Trust is an interesting personality construct that varies greatly among people and depends on a person’s life experiences, particularly experiences early in life. In the same manner in which my spouse/business partner differ on many traits, we differ greatly in the degree to which we trust other people. My partner, who had a more idyllic […]

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We are (not) Family

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 30, 2014

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

In a small business environment it is often said that employees are like families (in a way that implies that is a good thing).  The intimacy of a small business environment probably creates an impression of closeness that may be absent in a larger environment.  And, as employers, we often believe we are being generous […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 30, 2014

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

David’s topic for this post has the usual musical connection for me, in this case, the song by Sister Sledge, “We are Family.” However, contrary to the song lyrics, when one is the owner of a small business, it is important to remember that we are NOT family; instead, we are an organization comprised of […]

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When I’m done, I’m done

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 23, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

I am not the kind of person who can be pushed around, by anyone, including myself. In many ways, I am like the battery operated bunny that long ago advertised a certain brand of battery: I am either running full speed ahead or I am very wound down until the point of stopping. When I […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 23, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

When entertaining dinner guests, and my grandfather tired of their company, he was known to say to my grandmother, “Vi, let’s go to bed so these people can go home.” He was done, and had a unique way of saying so. Being done, as Melissa puts it, is hitting a wall. There are times when […]

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