Archive | Managing Employees

Write it down

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 6, 2015

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

No one can remember everything; it just isn’t possible. Knowing the limitations of human memory and not wanting to forget any important information, I take notes and write down details pertaining to almost every aspect of my life. I take notes when speaking on the telephone to clients; I write down daily “to do” lists, […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 6, 2015

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

As an employer of people just starting their careers post college, it has been fascinating to me to have to tell many, though not all, of them to “write it down.” This has come natural to me for some reason – like Melissa, I have always written it down in some way shape or form. […]

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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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Where do paychecks come from?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 19, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

Unlike the question of where babies come from, this question is appropriate in the workplace. And, it is important for employees to understand the answer to this question. Paychecks may be written under the name of their employer, but the employer is really not the source of the paycheck. As employers we are merely passing […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 19, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

In the same way in which money does not grow on trees, paychecks do not get distributed to employees by some magical force. Instead, in a service based business such as mine, someone has worked very diligently to convince a client to retain the company for work that will result in all of the company’s […]

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Quit writing when your hand hurts

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 9, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees

“Quit writing when your hand hurts” is a metaphor that expresses the idea to quit when you’re ahead, know when to give up, know when it is time to throw in the towel, etc. In the often competitive environment in which I live and work, it is difficult to stop working; there is always more […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 9, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees

Determining when one is about to “hit a wall” is important to avoid personal crashes, of any sort. Knowing your limits is something that is harder for some people to learn than others. But it is important to know when not to press on, when you will suffer from diminishing returns or performance and learning […]

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Business Associates are not Friends

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 2, 2014

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

I am a strong advocate of the adage, “business and pleasure do not mix” even though I co-own a business with my spouse. What works for my spouse/business partner and me does not necessarily work for other people. Indeed, I have found that becoming overly friendly with employees, or conversely, hiring a friend to work […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 2, 2014

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

When people work together for long periods of time and often, through the adversities of business, some form of friendship can and does develop. But, as long as one of the parties is paying the other to do something, the relationship is one to be handled carefully. I have become very friendly with some people […]

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One Night Stands are Never Better than Friendship

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 18, 2014

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

I have always treasured the special relationship I have with my friends. I am the type of person who has always been surrounded by friends, both male and female. I spend a lot of time nurturing my friendships and I try very hard to be a good friend, including being loyal, kind, and considerate even […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 18, 2014

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

I guess this point is a matter of having priorities and keeping them straight. And, keeping them in alignment between friends. Being put in the second fiddle role indicates that one doesn’t value the friendship as much as the other. If that is the case, one has to ask, why continue the friendship? In a […]

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Friendly Fire

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 4, 2014

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

The term, “friendly fire” is usually reserved for use in military contexts to describe a mistaken attack on friendly forces instead of the intended target, the enemy. There have been numerous accounts of friendly fire, including those resulting in injury or death. In non military contexts, friendly fire is often used to describe unintentional harm […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 4, 2014

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

The other thing about friendly fire incidents is that they can happen so suddenly. I suppose that is part of the definition of friendly fire – something that takes one by surprise. I recently read that betrayal only comes from someone close to you. That, too, is probably part of the definition. Generally such incidents […]

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Contingency planning

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 30, 2014

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

The demands of a small business are such that long term or contingency planning are uncommon when compared to big businesses.  However, it is critical for business owners to put some thought into contingency plans and to revise these plans periodically.  We can never be prepared for every contingency, but considering the many foreseeable issues […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 30, 2014

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

I am a planner, both a short range planner and a long range planner. I constantly think about the “what ifs?” in every situation. I spoke recently with someone who said she puts all unpleasant thoughts out of her mind. My response was “I have to think about the unpleasant things until I have resolved […]

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Respect is 2 way street

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 28, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees

There is an old cliché, “Respect is a two way street.” Like many old clichés, this one has some truth to it. Although there are some people for whom no amount of respect and kindness will matter, I have found most people respond somewhat in kind to the way they are treated. Everyone has a […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 28, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees

We have pointed out that mutual respect can have its own direct rewards, even financial. But, one should not be respectful just to get those rewards; that is, one cannot be fake nice and manipulative in this regard. The rewards come instead from having been respectful and having unexpected things happen as a result. To […]

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