Every Member of the Firm Should be a Leader

Source: Accounting Today

Jennifer Lee Wilson, ConvergenceCoaching LLC, Omaha NE, compares “cultures that value ownership” with “cultures that value helpers.” In the latter, the partners in the firm are responsible for the results of the work of employees. Employees just help partners get the work done. In the former, the employees are responsible for what they do. They take ownership of their work. When employees develop their own visions, goals, and plans to achieve them, they feel responsible for the results. It isn’t difficult to imagine how much more success can be achieved under a culture of ownership.

Firms should analyze every function including departments, processes, services, etc., and assign an owner to each one. There can be only one owner for each area; otherwise no one owns them. Each owner can categorize his or her area into sub-segments, with owners assigned to each of them.

Each owner is responsible for propelling his or her area towards realization of its goals.

Ownership is strategic. Helping is tactical. A description of the ownership role would comprise the following:

v      Envisioning

v      Planning

v      Organizing

v      Inspiring

v      Being dedicated

v      Solving problems

v      Preserving accountability

Everyone in the firm should own his or her area of responsibility, including the receptionist.

From Accounting Today, July 25, 2005. For the complete article, click on the following link: http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=13814&;pg=acctoday.