Author Archive | David Fauss

Yes, it is personal

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 10, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees

In two previous posts we have discussed employee mistakes, accidents, etc. The extension of these points is that employers are people too, with feelings, and we can’t help but take some of these things as personal affronts. The assets of the company are the property of the owners of the company. This includes the pens, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 10, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees

I have been working, and working hard, since I was 15 years old. Circumstances in my life necessitated my working to help support my family. Earning my Ph.D. required me to work, nonstop, all the way through college and graduate school. Nothing was ever given to me; I have worked for everything I have. It […]

Coffee in the Boss’ Truck

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 4, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees

Building on the earlier post about the cost of employee errors, this one is about particular experience we had. I found a large coffee stain on the floor near the center console of the SUV we own and use to travel to research projects. Mock jury research requires a large amount of equipment to be […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 4, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees

We have consulted on many tragic cases involving employees who have had serious, often fatal, accidents while driving their employer’s vehicle. It is always amazing to me that many employees seem to believe their employer’s vehicle (not to mention other property) is a benefit to which they are entitled. In the cases on which we […]

Running a Business is Not all Negative

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 27, 2014

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

As I have written some of these posts I have found that a number of them take on an employer – employee, us vs. them, negative tone. A few years ago there was a movie out called Horrible Bosses. I admit, when I first heard that title I was offended. Though I did enjoy the […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 27, 2014

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

When I was in graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in social psychology, the expectation among my professors was that I would join their ranks in academia. Indeed, all of my peers became college professors. I never desired a career in academia, preferring instead to work in corporate environments, including as a litigation consultant. If […]

Freak Spotter

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 17, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Trial Consulting

My spouse/business partner and I recently were conducting employment interviews. One of the candidates took exception to some aspects of the job application, which is a standard form we always use for all applicants. After assuring him that we were not trying to steal his identity, we had a good interview, but Melissa, the psychologist, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 17, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Trial Consulting

I am a social psychologist and an expert on judging and predicting human behavior. In fact, my job is comprised almost exclusively of judging and predicting human behavior and the company I co-own with my spouse exists solely because I possess the education, knowledge, skills, and expertise in determining how people will act. Time and […]

A Point of View & Another View – Ouch! How Employee Mistakes Hurt

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 6, 2014

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

I suppose it is partly because I operated my own business for several years as a photographer, with no employees, that I have a full appreciation for the costs of running a business. If I broke a camera, or ruined a print, it was “my bad”, and I had only myself to blame. But, when […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 6, 2014

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

As the co-owners of a small business, my spouse and I take everything personally, literally. I tell new employees, “Look around. Everything you see here was bought by my partner and me, and paid for, 100%, by money I earned personally. If you break something, you have broken something that belongs to me, not the […]

A Point of View & Another View – Staff Meetings

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 27, 2014

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

Staff meetings. One need only read a few Dilbert cartoons to realize staff meetings can be non productive and sometimes painful to attend. But, used with some forethought, they are an important way to keep everyone in sync and to allow the discussion of issues that require attention outside the demands of normal, everyday, work […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 27, 2014

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

I detest staff meetings. I perceive them as a total waste of my time, time when I could be doing “real work” or just about anything else. I know how to perform my job and I don’t need to participate in a meeting in order to learn what to do. These statements aside, I also […]

A Point of View & Another View – Keeping Everyone Organized

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 20, 2014

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

Though my business partner/spouse and I are organized people, employees have not always proven themselves to be. We have hired many employees for their first professional job and, although habits they had in college may have worked well for them when they were only concerned with their own individual performance, we have often seen the […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 20, 2014

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

I know what I am doing, at all times, on all cases for which my company and I have been retained. But, knowing what I am doing does not mean others know what they are doing! Realizing this, I have taken numerous steps to communicate with employees exactly what they are supposed to do on […]

A Point of View & Another View – Who Works for Whom (You’re Fired)

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 13, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

As we developed the topics for these insights, my spouse/business partner and I obviously based them on our experience as small business owners. While it is the topic of other posts to discuss who created or operates small or large businesses, suffice it to say that if someone has started a business or is running […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 13, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

My spouse/business partner and I have had the good fortune to have many wonderful employees over the years. We have had numerous long term employees and have also had the pleasure of working with several vendors for decades. During the over 20 years we have owned and operated our business, however, we have also had […]

A Point of View & Another View – Providing the Big Picture to Employees

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 5, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done

From time to time over the years we have been in business it has been clear that one or more employees works from day to day keeping only his or her immediate tasks in mind. The employee sees these tasks as the reason he/she has a job. Of course, to a degree, that is true. […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 5, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done

My spouse/business partner and I are big believers in open, honest, and direct communications with employees. We have debriefings after every research project to discuss anything that went wrong and ways to prevent future mistakes; we have planning meetings prior to all upcoming research days; we have extensive training programs for employees of all levels; […]

A Point of View & Another View – Learning When To “Cut ‘Em Loose”: Employees/Suppliers/Clients

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 31, 2014

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

I suppose it is akin to knowing when to hold them or when to fold them, but it is important in a small business to know when to cut “them” loose. “Them” may be an employee, or it may be a supplier, or it may be a client. Speaking with other business owners over the […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 31, 2014

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

Most of our parting of the ways with employees, vendors, and clients have been brought about by choices made by these individuals, including choices that have been unrelated to their work with my company. The most painful parting of company in my career was with a long time vendor, with us since the founding of […]

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Author Archive | David Fauss

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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