Posner defends his pro se stand | SCOTUS cancels travel ban hearing | Global 100 revenue rises 2.8%

ABA Journal latest headlines

Posner says he is open to litigating on behalf of pro se litigants, defends book

September 26, 2017, 8:00 am CDT

Revenue rises nearly 3 percent for Global 100 law firms; which firms top the list?

September 26, 2017, 7:00 am CDT

2 Florida appeals judges are listed on program for NRA charity fundraiser

September 25, 2017, 5:25 pm CDT

Cartoon Caption: What's your sentence for this courtroom game of Hangman?

September 25, 2017, 3:45 pm CDT

Clio commits $1.1M toward developer fund and app contest

September 25, 2017, 3:36 pm CDT

Clio announces major upgrades to platform

September 25, 2017, 3:05 pm CDT

Supreme Court cancels oral arguments on March travel ban, asks lawyers to address mootness

September 25, 2017, 1:20 pm CDT

ABA opposes health reform bill, warns of burden shift to states that could lead to rationed care

September 25, 2017, 12:50 pm CDT

Former US Rep. Anthony Weiner sentenced to 21 months for sexting teen

September 25, 2017, 10:37 am CDT

In the Magazine

From the October 2017 Issue

Leading Law Firms for Women

Program helps law firms see progress in gender diversity--but is it enough?

Mandating Diversity

Law firms borrow a concept from the NFL to address lack of diversity in their leadership ranks

Question of the Week

What phrases do you hate hearing when talking to colleagues?

It is important to "begin a conversation in a way that doesn't make it difficult for the person to respond, disagree, or add their perspective," communications specialist John Stoker says in a post at his DialogueWORKS blog. He then lists some poor ways for leaders to start a conversation or meeting with colleagues.

For instance, "I don't mean to offend you..." is really a set-up to offend a person, Stoker writes. "If you think that a person might be offended by something that you have to tell them, then you should really think about how you might deliver your message in a way that is respectful."

Or if you start a conversation with "Of course, as you know," then the person you're speaking to is unlikely to "ask you questions about what you are saying because they won't want to admit what they don't know."

So this week, we'd like to ask you: What phrases do you hate hearing when talking to colleagues (and thus avoid using) because they seem to get in the way of solving problems?

Answer in the comments.

Read the answers to last week's question: Do you volunteer on a regular basis?

Featured answer:

Posted by Neal Weinstein: "I volunteer once a week as a ski instructor at Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation at Sunday River, Maine, helping handicapped kids and adults learn to ski. My problems disappear when I work with these kids."