Posts Tagged ‘Communication skills’
Unlikely Source of Career Life Integration
Jayne is a team player. She is very passionate about her work and life. She has many things she wants to be involved in. She can be relied on to take things and run with them. Unfortunately at this stage in her career, as a director, she is seriously considering leaving the organization. She is…
Read MoreDo You Know What Your Clients’ Silence Means?
When I teach topics like deepening client relationships and delivering exceptional client service, I discuss the importance of proactively meeting with clients outside of your regular engagement to further your relationship, identify any potential service issues and uncover new opportunities to add value. Participants nod their heads in agreement and some even approach this discussion…
Read MoreNever again sell anything. Ever.
How would you like to comfortably engage in a conversation with an existing or prospective client and end up with a very profitable engagement without selling a thing? Seem like an unrealistic dream? Not only is it possible, but when you totally, completely drop the idea of selling, it can actually become quite easy. The…
Read MoreProtecting Your BYOD Exposure
Bring your own device (BYOD) is becoming the standard in accounting firms as we not only allow our personnel to connect to firm data from their home computers, but also access email and other firm applications on personal tablets and smartphones. When one of these devices gets lost or stolen, or if an employee is…
Read MoreYou ARE Better Off Without Them!
I am writing this blog to firm leaders. I don’t know how many times I have had Managing Partners or Executive Committee members share a story of a poor performing and/or poor behaving partner that they have let go. Inevitably in the conversation, they will say, “We had all of these reasons why we couldn’t…
Read MoreDuring Change – Seek First to Understand
Boomer Consulting embarked on an adventure this year to move many of our technology platforms to cloud-based solutions that would work collaboratively together. It literally changed everything about how we work – from our processes to training on systems, and changing work habits for each of us. Let’s just say, it has been rough on…
Read MoreReluctant Leadership?
Partners often tell me that one of their number one succession concerns is who will ascend to partner. The perception is that “there is no one interested in becoming a partner these days.” Yet, when I talk to managers and senior managers (and even staff!), they are interested, but they don’t really know what means…
Read MoreAs A Leader, You Worry About Others – But Don’t Forget About Yourself
Whether you are an actual owner, principal, firm administrator, marketing director, HR director or a talented up-and-comer inside your CPA firm, the fact that you are reading this blog means that you deeply care, and worry about the firm, the client and your team members. But what about YOU, personally? Many of us in CPA firm management are…
Read MoreSetting up “Bumpers” on Your Process
If you have young kids and/or have ever been bowling, you know all about “bumper bowling”. In an effort to provide an opportunity for even the most inexperienced bowler to have some form of success, bumpers can be placed on the sides of the lanes to keep the ball from going in the gutter. With…
Read MoreCan You Feel The Power Shift?
78 million Baby Boomers, born from 1946-1964 need to transfer responsibility, wealth, and assets over the next 12-15 years. It might be easy to lull yourself into believing that the impact of this is a ways off. But studies estimate that 10,000 to 12,000 people are retiring every day and the impact in firms (and…
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