Is Your Firm an Appealing Place to Work?

Source: Solutions for CPA Firm Leaders

The following includes excerpts, reproduced with permission, from a blog post by Rita Keller.

I think it is so important that your people are happy. As the founder of Southwest Airlines, Herb Kelleher has always said, “If my people are happy, my customers are happy.”

Many firms I have talked to this year – well, every firm I have talked to this year – is looking for people. They are also concerned about keeping their best people.

People stay where they feel connected, where their opinions seem to matter, where they receive training and have challenging work to keep them engaged. People stay where they have a workplace they are proud of (nice surroundings, top technology, efficient work space). I always look at it this way: If I have to spend a lot of hours working, I want the place I work to be really nice (decor, furnishings, equipment, etc.). I want the place I work to be friendly, nurturing, and even fun.

I don't think the younger generation is that much different when it comes to this topic. Over the years I have talked to young, entry-level accountants who were so proud of the fact that they worked in a professional, upscale office.

Sometimes engaging your team is simply the little things – recognition, appreciation, communication.

I like what Scott Dorsey, CEO of ExactTarget, does for his team, which has grown from the original three people to 1,300.

Every Friday he does the Friday Note – it's an email to the entire organization highlighting the accomplishments for the week.

For the complete post, read, “Are Your People Proud to Work for Your Firm?”

From Solutions for CPA Firm Leaders, the blog of Rita Keller, August 23, 2012, http://ritakeller.com/blog/.