What You Should be Communicating to Staff

Source: Partner's Report

This article points out that it is impossible to over-communicate. So what is it we should be communicating to our staff? Here are the suggestions:

• The level of competition in your market(s). Competition is certainly heating up. Staff need to learn about new marketing and service needs -- so they can understand the firm's stance in the market and the strategy to support that stance.
• An update on implementation of the firm's strategic or marketing and business development plan.
• Announcements of new engagements for new and existing clients.
• Market or competitive intelligence that can aid the business development process.
• Anecdotes of employees going the extra mile for the firm or a client.
• A candid, conservative estimate for the firm's financial outlook in the new year.
• The rationale for any needed reductions or elimination of employee benefits.

And how should you communicate?

• "Fireside" chats with staff to field questions, address concerns, and share information.
• A timely internal newsletter with information from partners and staff that focuses on "good things" going on in the firm. This newsletter can be issued when there is good news to share, rather than on a regular schedule.
• Emphasize the mission statement. Many CPA firms that successfully communicate are sending the message about the firm's values and vision on a regular and varied basis. The mission is communicated in reports on how the firm is progressing toward achieving annual goals and strategic plan steps, new business, new hires, and so on.

For the complete article, click here.

From Partner's Report, The Monthly Update for CPA Firm Owners, Institute of Management and Administration, Inc., [email protected], January 2010, p. 1, "EXERCISING LEADERSHIP: Why Owners Should Strive to 'Over-communicate' With Staff Now."