Archive | Careers

“Know” your clients

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 7, 2015

Category: Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

One interesting aspect of our trial consulting work is that we often work for people whom we do not meet in person until we all show up at a mock jury project or Melissa arrives at the courthouse.  We have considerable contact with clients via phone calls and email, but often, there is little face […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 7, 2015

Category: Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

As a social psychologist, I am what many people describe “a people person.” I like human beings, in general, and I enjoy getting to know people, including learning what makes them who they are. My job, as a litigation consultant, requires me to interact with a variety of attorneys, insurance adjusters, corporate executives, and other […]

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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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Self actualizers

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 28, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work

Self actualization is the highest level of human existence. Self actualization is achieved by only the rarest among the rarest people. Few of us will ever meet someone who is truly self actualized, and fewer among us will achieve this lofty goal ourselves. Self actualized people are true to themselves; they are often altruistic, with […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 28, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work

I had learned about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in my Psychology 101 class, but the concept is a bit abstract, until you meet someone at the top of the pyramid. And it took my spouse, a psychologist, to point out to me what should have been obvious in these 2 individuals. One of the most […]

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Learn names

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 21, 2015

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

How many times have all of us met someone who says, “I can’t remember names,” or “I’m just not good at names,” or something similar? I, for one, cannot fathom how many times I have heard this type of inane statement! When someone does not bother to learn my name it communicates volumes to me […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 21, 2015

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

I once heard the story that Jimmy Carter, when running for the Presidency, studied memory techniques that enabled him to call all 535 members of Congress by name upon first meeting them. Apparently, this was a goal of importance to him. It is pretty impressive and most of could not come close to such 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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Elevators, doors, and gentle people

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 14, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Life Outside of Work

We live in a world of quickly changing norms and other social rules that dictate our conduct, including conduct with friends, family, co-workers, and strangers. Some people believe social niceties are quaint and outdated and are no longer called for in today’s world of gender equality (or, to be more precise, emerging gender equality). Although […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 14, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Life Outside of Work

Common courtesies should be gender and race neutral. We are all trying to do the best we can getting through life and looking out for each other, even for strangers; makes it easier to get through life. I was taught to hold doors open for people, to leave the door area near elevators clear for […]

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Mind your manners

I was raised by parents who prided themselves on being kind and courteous to others. I was taught, at an early age, to mind my manners, be mindful of etiquette and other social norms, and just “be nice.” Much has been written and discussed about people in today’s world seeming to lack good manners, but […]

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Melissa may one day write a book on manners – she could easily do so. And, I agree with her philosophy that manners goes beyond table settings. Accordingly, both she and I take the time to say thank you to housekeepers, servers, and the many people we come into contact with as we work nationwide […]

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Employees can/do turn into clients

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 31, 2015

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

Almost everyone who works for a living knows not to “burn bridges” with former employers, lest they need a job reference or something else from the former employer in the future. Rarely, however, have I heard this expression applied to former employees. It seems that many employers fail to consider that, one day, when they […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 31, 2015

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

The employee turned client is an interesting turn about and, a positive sign in many ways. And, it was also interesting when we had someone who had worked for 2 other trial consulting firms hire us at a firm where he was (once again) practicing law on his cases. He did not hire either of […]

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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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The plane, etc., leaves on time

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 17, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Travel

Believe it or not, most flights leave on time. Most trains leave on time too and so do buses, ships, and other modes of transportation that follow a schedule. What this means for business, and other, travelers, is that anyone who wants to be on board should arrive either early or on time or be […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 17, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Travel

Another adage, “be there or be square.” And, Melissa would never want to be square! As simple as the be on time or get left behind message is, this is another detail on which we have had to train, remind or even cajole employees to remember. Perhaps some of the “on time” issues have been […]

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