Where to Find Outside Training

Source: Practical Accountant

The expected retirement of baby boomer partners has firms looking for training programs for new leaders. Here are some organizations that can help:

Rainmaker Academy (www.therainmakeracademy.com,  888-797-7246):

• Communication skills for attracting the right clients.
• Continual programs, not one-time events. (People can be challenged, but not changed, by a one-time course. Real change requires a training process.)
• Teaches participants to be leaders.

Boomer Consulting (www.boomer.com, 888-266-6375):

• Technology circles teach use of technology as a management tool.
• Performance3 Management Program—planning and managing people and processes.
• The Learning and HR Symposium—how to manage learning.

PDI (www.pdiglobal.com,  800-227-0498): 

• How to Grow and Build a Profitable Book of Business.
• Leadership Development Skills for Today’s CPA Firm Partner—listening, mentoring, coaching, motivating, communicating.

Audit Watch (www.auditwatch.com, 800-775-9866 ): 

• Training in auditing.

Upstream Academy (www.upstreamacademy.com, 406-495-1850 ): 

• LeaderSkills—modules in business development, client service, management, supervision, and personal development. Emphasizes training the trainer.
• Practice Leader Workshops—leadership, practice development, recruiting, and retention.

The Growth Partnership (www.thegrowthpartnership.com, 877-226-0496) 

• Partner development program (with Franklin Covey).
• Onsite programs in leadership, sales and marketing, communications, productivity, and practice management.

From Practical Accountant, October 2006, 800-221-1809. For the complete article, click on the following link: http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=21989&;pg=pracacc.