Do Your People Know How to Make Partner?
Source: Solutions for CPA Firm Leaders
The following is a complete reprint, reproduced with permission, from an article by Rita Keller.
Your team wants to know how to become a partner/owner. They deserve to know “how it works” the very first day they walk in the door at your firm. I want you to be ready to paint the picture of career success in the CPA profession for every new person you hire. It is a wonderful journey and I hope you take great delight in sharing!
Have you defined the steps to partnership for your team? Have you shared thoroughly and often what it takes inside your firm to become partner/owner/shareholder?
It is different for each firm but it is SO important. Here are some examples of laying a foundation and building upon it to become a leader in your firm:
- Technical proficiency, work ethic and adherence to firm culture
- Managing, motivating people and acquiring emotional intelligence
- Enhancing communication skills
- Become an effective mentor, actually inspire others
- Managing engagements and fulfilling “for the good of the firm” duties
- Read, research and gain knowledge in how to market and sell
- Market the firm – be visible; be proactive with clients
- Market yourself – do it at the same time you are marketing the firm
- Converting referrals
- Reaching ownership
- Never-ending career development in leadership and relationship building
“When you make a commitment to a relationship, you invest your attention and energy in it more profoundly because you now experience ownership of that relationship.” – Barbara Deangelis
From Solutions for CPA Firm Leaders, the blog of Rita Keller, president of Keller Advisors, LLC, [email protected], “Steps to CPA Partnership.” Visit http://ritakeller.com/blog/.