Bridging the Gap-The Conclusion

On behalf of the members of the CPA Consultants’ Alliance, I hope you have enjoyed and benefited from our 2015 blog series focused on the central theme of Bridging the Gap-Strengthening the Connection Between Current and Emerging Leaders.

The membership of the CPA Consultants’ Alliance is comprised of many of the top thought leaders in the CPA profession today. The insights they have shared with our followers this year include:

• In What’s the Why? Gary Adamson explored the differences in perspectives of two generations of successful professionals and the importance their values play in their career paths.

• Jen Wilson poses some provocative challenges to all the three generations present in most firms in A Call for Change: An Open Letter to Each Generation.

• In Sponsorship-Barrier to Exit for Talent Mary Bennett delves into the important role sponsors from within the group of current leaders have in the development of future leaders.

• Sandra Wiley discusses her experience with what really motivates young people to become future leaders in They Don’t Want to be Owners.

• Keeping Your Team Members Connected, Engaged, and Energized highlights Angie Grissom’s thoughts on 3 key strategies for improving employee engagement.

• In Growing and Developing Future Leaders is a Two Way Street Carrie Steffen identifies the key steps every firm must follow to develop future leaders.

• Dustin Hostetler outlines the reasons why potential emerging leaders are attracted to firms focused on relentlessly improving their processes in The Culture of Continuous Improvement.

• A Simple Way to Dissolve the Gap is Rick Solomon’s blog on the differences between perception and reality generations in your firm have and their impact on career goals.

• Sarah Johnson Dobek outlines a straight forward and effective approach to developing future leaders in 6 Tips for Fostering Leadership in Your Organization.

• In Marketing is Not Just for Partners Anymore Bonnie Buol Rusczyk explores creating a strategic marketing culture in your firm that involves the entire firm.

• Rita Keller examines how one firm has benefitted from an open and progressive environment in Eliminate the Mystery Through Communication and Inclusion.

• In Bridging the Gap- Staying Independent vs. Selling or Merging Terry Putney outlines what is required for firms to attract, retain, and develop the talent necessary to build a strong bench to replace retiring partners.

• Collaboration Technology to Improve Your Firm is Roman Kepczyk’s description of cutting edge technology tools that can play an important role in creating a more effective team environment in your firm.

• Tamera Loerzel investigates the relationship between a firm’s culture and its ability to develop future leaders in A Winning Culture is an Intentional Culture.

The CPA Consultants’ Alliance will be aggregating all of these blogs into an eBook we will publish in the first half of 2016. Our members believe this eBook will be a unique resource for current and future leaders interested in developing high performing firms that will be sustainable and vital in the long run. Look for further announcements about that project in the near future.

I also encourage you to visit our website at www.cpaconsultantsalliance.com for more resources produced by our members including the following whitepapers and articles: CPA Firm Leadership: Communication Drives New Possibilities and Measuring Happiness at Work: How Firms Can Win With a Happy Culture and our most recent publication, CPA Firms Face Considerable Succession Challenges.

Thank you for your interest in CPACA and we hope you find the information in these blogs useful.

About the Author: Terrence Putney, CPA (tputney@transitionadvisors.com) is the President of CPA Consultants’ Alliance and CEO of Transition Advisors, LLC, www.transitionadvisors.com, which exclusively consults on succession and growth strategies for accounting practices nationally and ownership transition. He can be reached at tputney@transitionadvisors.com or 866-279-8550.