PwC to start US law firm | Hotline answers call for Irma, Maria legal aid | Settlement would audit 800K student loans

ABA Journal latest headlines

PwC to open US law firm, a sign of increasing focus on legal operations by Big 4 accounting firms

September 21, 2017, 8:35 am CDT

Charles Kenji Whitehead: Teaching startup law as startup products start up

September 21, 2017, 8:30 am CDT

Ask Daliah: Opening your law office to open spaces

September 21, 2017, 8:00 am CDT

ABA helps set up hotline for islanders needing legal assistance after hurricanes

September 21, 2017, 7:30 am CDT

Federal judicial nominee says suit over transgender child's bathroom access shows 'Satan's plan'

September 21, 2017, 7:00 am CDT

Reported document requests by Mueller indicate Trump's actions in office are under scrutiny

September 20, 2017, 2:25 pm CDT

2nd Circuit reinstates fraternity members' defamation suit against Rolling Stone

September 20, 2017, 1:51 pm CDT

What phrases do you hate hearing when talking to colleagues?

September 20, 2017, 12:25 pm CDT

RNC has paid $427K in legal fees for Trump and Trump Jr.

September 20, 2017, 11:16 am CDT

800,000 student loans to be audited under proposed settlement; lender would pay at least $19M

September 20, 2017, 10:30 am CDT

In the Magazine

From the September 2017 Issue

Ethics: Innocence Awareness

Some states now require all attorneys to report wrongful convictions

Garner: Pro Tips on Speech Prep

How to enhance audience experience and make your points stick

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."