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March 2010, Issue #46

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In this issue:

How Fraud Alert & Odds and Ends

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Fraud Alert:

I was reading Jim Calloway's blog (attorney and Director Oklahoma Bar Practice Management Program) and he reports a serious fraud alert for attorneys who are being scammed by folks using fake cashier's checks and certified checks. It seems like you can't trust those types of checks anymore. What is happening is scammers are calling lawyers using the name of local referral sources they have looked up online for instance. After all, if some says they were referred by the name of a local professional person you do want to talk with them don't you? I suggest you check out Jim's blog post to get the details. It could happen to you.

How To Fire Someone:

This last month one of my clients was dealing with some personnel issues. The management team was concerned they might have to fire someone and wanted to know what to say and how to do that since it is an uncomfortable conversation with many potential negative ramifications. I suggested they look at a well done article on firing someone from UC Berkley's website.

In addition do know that it should never come as a surprise to an employee that they are being fired for poor performance (unless the breach was very serious and then it is likely not a surprise anyway). There needs to have been verbal warnings (document any verbal warnings in a memo to yourself and not placed in the personnel file), at least one written warning, and suspension or probation then termination. Lastly, know that if you have to fire someone you need to do an autopsy on what you did wrong to wind up in this place. You may have had poor hiring practices like you did not use personality profiling prior to hiring as another example.

Employee Motivation:

While we are on the subject of employees, you might want to give some thought to how you motivate employees. Attorneys often lack this crucial skill set. Another fine article on this factor is on the website of the Wharton School of Business. It might give you some ideas. You also can improve motivation and productivity through personality profiling approaches. Call me to ask me how. it is not expensive by the way.

Just for fun:

There is a video called "OK Go - This Too Shall Pass Rube Goldberg Machine Version - Official that is kind of fun if you like that sort of thing. Now it does run 3:53 minutes and the music is going to be heard if you have the speakers on so when you click over know that one. Click here now.

Comments, ideas, questions or topics you would like to see addressed in future newsletters? I would love to hear from you. Just reply to this newsletter and tell me what you think.

Best regards,

Henry Harlow
Founder, www.Law-Firm-Marketing-Coach.com