The Biggest Barrier to Anytime, Anywhere Work™ – Sludge

But there is a BIG issue lurking that can sabotage your firm’s move to a truly virtual Anytime, Anywhere Work™ firm and it’s called “SLUDGE.” In “real life,” sludge is defined as a muddy substance, dirty oil, sea ice, mire, muck and any number of other unproductive substances that slow or bog things down.  We first heard of sludge…

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Asking for Transparency – What Does That Really Mean?

When facilitating visioning sessions with both current partners and their NextGen leaders, one element consistently emerges as crucial to their becoming a NextGen firm: transparency. Yes, it’s a request of the NextGen leaders, and it is often contrary to Baby Boomers’ and older Gen Xers’ approach of “Just put your head down, don’t ask any questions and…

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Feedback Is The Breakfast of Champions…

At least it is according to Ken Blanchard, author, leadership expert and coach. And we agree – as do athletic champions! If you study championship athletes, you’ll find that not only do they appreciate feedback, but they seek it out from their coaches, teammates, other experts in their field and by watching videos of their own performance. They…

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Staying Positive

At this time of the year, the various busy season deadlines, spring upon us, and new activities thrown into our schedule require increased time and effort, driving our stress level up. Here are six ideas to help maintain positivity – and even reduce the feeling of stress – that you can practice during these peak…

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You Want to Make Partner? Distinguish Yourself

We often get asked from up-and-coming leaders what we think it will take for them to become partner. We believe that there are certain criteria and results an individual is expected to achieve to be considered for partnership. While some current partners in firms may argue that they’ll “know a partner when they see it”…

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It Pays to Give

“For it is in giving that we receive.” Francis of Assisi “Why should I give free advice?” I often am asked this question when advising clients to blog, answer questions in public forums and generally offer professional insight to their audiences. It’s a reasonable question, since like most in the accounting profession, they want help…

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How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em?

There is a World War I era song titled, How Ya Gonna Keep Em Down On The Farm, after they’ve seen Paris (pronounced in the song as Par-ee)? Farm boys had gone off to war in Europe at a time when farm boys knew no other life than the one they were living on the farm. Up…

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Is Meeting the Deadline, Meeting Your Client’s Expectations?

“Our installers will be there between 12 noon and 5 pm” We’ve all been there.  Whether it’s hooking up a new cable or satellite provider package, getting appliances delivered and installed, or new furniture delivered, often these services come with a huge window of delivery time.  And while this window may be convenient for the…

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