Latest Articles
How much information about the business do you share with your team?
Going back many years I reckon lots of firm owners had a fear of sharing information, somehow thinking it could be used against them. Over time I’ve seen this diminish and yet I still occasionally come across a firm owner who is reluctant to share information about...
Three models to help you set goals
In a recent article Is goal setting useful? I shared some of my research on the pros and cons of goals. In that I promised to share three models for thinking about goals. If you read the earlier article you may recall the conclusion that there is enormous value in...
Where do you do your best work? (And why is that so?)
Have you ever stopped to ponder this question? Two things have prompted me to do so: The obvious impact of COVID which has found people working in different physical spaces to where they might normally work; and Renovations at home mean I am temporarily out of my much...
Lessons in leadership from Australia’s performance at the Olympic Games
I love the Olympic Games. Not just because I was one of two people responsible for the set up of Olympic Headquarters for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, but because at their core they are about individuals (and teams) striving to be the best they can be. Comparisons...
Is it time to have “special projects leave”?
As an accounting firm coach, consultant and mentor I am privy to many shareholder agreements. Some incorporate a form of long service or sabbatical leave for owners on some sort of a cycle. Good idea. I’ve recently had a client try the idea of what they ended up...
Two tips for better quality video calls
Video You might have noticed you can’t zoom your camera natively in Zoom or Teams. Sometimes you just want to zoom in or out a bit to get the right look on the screen. This might include zooming in to remove a few stray items in your room from being visible to others....
Looking for a Practice Manager, Business Manager, General Manager or CEO for your firm? Here are some things to consider.
As an accounting firm coach, consultant and mentor it is not unusual for me to be asked about when the right time is for a firm to hire either a Practice Manager, General Manager or CEO. Having held each of these positions inside firms myself and worked with multiple...
Is goal setting useful?
As an accounting firm coach, mentor and consultant one of the things I am often doing is helping clients set goals and then supporting them to achieve those goals. I believe in the value of goal setting and believe it is useful. However, I have come across a small...
Five priorities for the start of FY22
With a new financial year kicked off in Australia it is not too late to plan for the year ahead if you’ve not done so already. Here are my suggestions to make FY22 a great year. (Re)articulate your values Get clear on your mission Get clear on your vision Have a...
Should I rehire an ex-employee?
This is a question I have been asked a few times in my role as a coach, consultant and mentor for accounting firm owners and managers. It’s also a question I’ve had to answer when working inside firms on a few occasions. I think the answer to this question is “it...
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