People Stay Because of People

I was talking with a CPA partner recently and they commented that their firms mission statement would not inspire anyone. It was too long, too boring and no one in the firm even seemed to be able to recite it.

I read a lot of CPA firm mission statements and, yes, most of them sound very much alike and they really do not inspire. In fact, I believe that few professionals, like CPAs, are motivated by grand visions or clever mission statements.

Young, high-potential “superstars” inside CPA firms are inspired by individual managers/owners who know how to get the best out of them.

Yet, many CPA managers/owners simply have not been trained, mentored and coached in how to manage people. CPAs of all levels inside firms receive plenty of technical training, they do plenty of professional reading on the technical aspects of the profession but they have not been trained, nor do they read about how to manage people, how to give feedback in such a way that it leaves the recipient energized rather than resentful.

Even the managing partner (and many firms are seeing new MPs take office) has not been trained, as the old saying goes, on how to get a bunch of prima donnas to sing like a choir.

All of this is so important during a merger and there are lots of mergers going on in the profession right now. Firm leaders need to pick managers carefully and train them quickly.

About the author

Rita Keller is the Founder of Keller Advisors, LLC, the Co-Founder of SurveyCPA and a widely respected voice to CPA firm management. Through her presentations and workshops, she interacts with thousands of accountants annually. Named as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, she acts as an advisor and coach to CPA firm leaders across the country. She can be reached at rkeller@ritakeller.com.