Developing a Positive Culture

Source: Possibilities for CPA Firm Leaders

Following are excerpts from a blog entry by Rita Keller, reproduced with permission.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Almost every CPA began their career with extensive training in auditing. They attended Level I, II, III and IV--year after year--being trained to find mistakes, to find fault, to be critical, to be suspicious.

They have not been trained in giving praise. I believe that is why we continue to struggle with RETAINING the best and brightest people. The culture is just too negative for optimistic personalities. It will continue to get worse as we nurture and train the Millennials because they LOVE positive feedback and lots of attention.

As you are training your new accountants, are you giving them MORE than auditing skills?

What's your culture like? Think about these success strategies:

• One successful ad agency I recently read about (large office with a lot of people) does NOT email each other when they are in the office. It avoids misunderstandings.
• Do you keep the communication flowing? I find that this is the biggest challenge in a harmonious CPA firm. Communication must flow downward and upward continuously.
• Self-discipline--A strong work ethic can outperform pure talent. Can you easily identify the team members who "get it" and "want it?"
• Do your people have the passion? Encourage them to ask themselves: What can I do to make my work better?
• If you have disappointments, mourn it and move on. Don't dwell on the negative, don't join the Whining Team in your office.
• Nurture respect as the foundation of your culture. Respect the work, the client and each other.

To read the entire blog entry, click here.

"It's so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to." - Annie Gottlier

From Possibilities for CPA Firm Leaders, the blog of Rita Keller, president of Keller Advisors, LLC, [email protected], "Success Strategies," August 10, 2009.