Posts Tagged ‘productivity’
Keeping Your Team Members Connected, Engaged and Energized
A recent survey conducted by the AICPA showed one of the biggest concerns accounting firms are facing today is employee retention and engagement. This is no surprise and is endemic throughout the entire profession. As the economy takes a turn for the better, the rate at which team members are leaving their current employment or…
Read MoreA Winning Culture is an Intentional Culture
“People will typically be more enthusiastic where they feel a sense of belonging and see themselves as part of a community than they will in a workplace in which each person is left to his own devices” ― Alfie Kohn, Author Your firm’s culture is the essence of its being and the way it feels to work…
Read MoreThe Culture of Continuous Improvement
Lean Six Sigma and Change Management are popular concepts in accounting firms today. Most firms start their “Lean Journey” with an eye toward improved efficiency and controlling engagement costs. But after a successful first project, many leaders in our profession rave about all of the ancillary benefits they are beginning to see within their organizations. …
Read MoreEliminate The Mystery through Communication & Inclusion
When I begin to work with a new CPA firm client, one of the most common issues I encounter is the lack of open, honest, on-going communication between firm leadership and firm team members. In many firms, some leaders are still in the mindset that many of the management and partner topics need to confidential.…
Read MoreCollaboration Technology to Improve Your Firm
Communications is critical component within every business and can either enhance or detract from overall productivity within a firm. Core communication skills are developed as people grow and most are comfortable with the communication tools they were introduced to and utilize during their career, especially those they use most often on a day to day…
Read MoreRansomware Awareness
There has been a recent surge of Ransomware attacks on accountants whose workstations were not adequately protected and backed up, leading to some firms paying a ransom and others recreating the data (and wishing they would have paid the ransom instead). For those of you not familiar with Ransomware, it is a term for malicious…
Read MoreCounter-Intuitive Must-Dos To Manage Time And Reduce Stress
Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale completely. Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale completely. Repeat a couple more times and then notice how much quieter your mind is and how much more relaxed your body is. This tried and true stress buster works!…
Read MoreAAA 2015 Paperless Benchmark Survey Results… Bleeding or Stable Digital Edge?
The Association for Accounting Administration recently completed the 2015 Paperless Benchmarking survey to find out the status of paperless office practices in accounting firms this upcoming busy season. The survey has been conducted every two years beginning in 2003 to help identify trends in adopting “less paper” processes. Seven NEW questions were added this year…
Read MoreStaying Focused in 2015
The beginning of the year is time of renewal for everyone. We set resolutions and goals and swear this will be the best year yet. Then reality sets in. Day-to-day pressures take over, and we get derailed. Your well-intentioned goal to get out there during tax season is stifled by the client work and the…
Read MoreWhy are you Changing?
I recently had the honor of presenting on the topic of change management, with my friend and fellow industry consultant Guy Gage of Partners Coach, at the Accounting Today Growth and Profitability Summit. For those who know me well and have been following my writing over the last seven years, I often like to combine…
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