Archive | Common Courtesy

Fort Myers connection & Magnus: Kim Hart

Many years ago, I met an attorney in my hometown of Fort Myers, Florida, named Kim Patrick Hart. I will begin this post with some background. Kim and I are close in age, but we attended rival high schools. I graduated from the original high school, Fort Myers Senior High School (go Green Wave!) and […]

Continue Reading

You never know how things will turn out at a first meeting. I met Kim not long after starting Magnus in 1993 (Melissa met him a few years earlier). Though we had worked in the trial consulting world for a few years, and Melissa longer than me, we were starting “from scratch” and making cold […]

Continue Reading

2 Time Clients

Melissa’s mother had a saying that she used, rarely, to indicate she was not going to do, or eat, or whatever that same thing again. For example, if she went somewhere one time and did not like it, she would say, “I’ve been there twice, my first and last times…” I’ve been to a few […]

Continue Reading

It is painful for David to turn away business, and the revenue derived from business, but when a client has abused me, one or more of our employees, or him, the pain from working with the abuser is greater than the pain from lost revenue. Fortunately, there have been few clients in my decades long […]

Continue Reading

Buddy Schulz

In my decades long career as a social psychologist who works as a litigation research consultant, I have encountered thousands of attorneys. Most of the attorneys for whom I have provided research and consulting services have been professional, pleasant, and of above average intelligence. A few have been exceptional in one or more positive ways. […]

Continue Reading

I have to admit that, when we scheduled our first meeting with Buddy, I was a bit intimidated. Magnus was new and he was the head of litigation for his firm, nationwide. We had a couple of connections that opened the door to meeting him and that meeting was the start of a very positive […]

Continue Reading

Write thank you

Just as I believe it is important to say “thank you,” I believe it is important to write a note of thanks. And, although I have been accused of being “old school,” when I say write a note of thanks, I mean actually writing a thank you note, not sending an email or a text. […]

Continue Reading

It is interesting in today’s world of instant communications that some common courtesies are lost. As Melissa says, an email is better than nothing. But, it is likely that all of us receive gifts, services, favors, or other (often intangible) things that warrant an expression of gratitude. And, because instant communications prevail, the niceties of […]

Continue Reading

Say thank you

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 30, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees

I believe in saying “thank you.” When someone does something nice for me, when someone performs a job I am pleased with, or when someone helps me, I thank him or her. My employees have often expressed surprise about me thanking them for doing a good job. I thank each and every employee, at the […]

Continue Reading

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 30, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees

It is interesting how some people are surprised to be sincerely thanked. “Thank you” as a reinforcement of something done and done well is a simple reward that goes a long way. I have worked for at least 2 people who rarely said thank you and, in at least 1 of those cases, it appeared […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes