Becoming a Learning Organization

Source: Accounting Today

James K. Boomer, senior consultant at Boomer Consulting, Inc. in Manhattan, Kansas, asks what accountants do with the half of their time for which they don’t bill. Firms should commit to training, which will consequently make them more productive, more efficient, and more attractive to recruits.

Soft skills (e.g., presentation skills, writing, working in teams) are often overlooked, though they may be most important in establishing good relationships with clients.

In a learning organization, everyone is a teacher as well as a student. Everyone strives to build on his or her unique abilities.

Benefits to the firm include:

• Leaders are developed at all levels.
• High-quality people are attracted to the firm.
• The firm becomes more productive and more efficient.
• Succession planning at all levels is helped.

From Accounting Today, November 28, 2005. For the complete article, click on the following link: http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=1090&;pg=acctoday.