Is Your Retreat Going to be Focused on the Right Things?

Source: Partner’s Report—the Monthly Update for CPA Firm Owners

August Aquila of Aquila Global Advisors (www.aquilaadvisors.com) lists the following issues commonly addressed at retreats:

• Strategic plan.
• Partner compensation.
• Staff compensation.
• Recruiting.
• New partners.
• Budget.

Aquila believes some of these are more appropriately considered at periodic partner meetings throughout the year. Some subjects that should be considered at retreats include:

• What are the major issues affecting the firm’s long-run success? What changes do they imply?
• What improvements are needed in business processes?
• How can the firm become, or continue to be, a learning organization?
• What improvements in work are necessary to meet client needs?
• Why is the firm successful? Will it continue to be?
• What is the status of succession of retiring partners?

From Partner’s Report—the Monthly Update for CPA Firm Owners, May 2007, p. 2. For subscription information contact Institute of Management & Administration, Inc., 3 Park Avenue, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10016-5902. One-year subscription $399. 212-244-0360, [email protected].