Latest Articles
10 leadership qualities to help have a great 2023
My inspiration for this article came from the Growth Faculty, which I noted in another article as the organisation that brought Barack Obama to Australia recently. The Growth Faculty Brilliant ideas for inspired leadership They published a monograph, drawing on the...
What I learned the day I met Barack Obama
Yes it’s true, on Wednesday 29 March 2023 I had the privilege of meeting Barack Obama. I admit it was brief. I got to say hello and welcome him back to Australia. He asked my name and said “very good to meet you Rob”, we had our photo taken together, I thanked him for...
Observations from Accounting Business Expo and Accountex
The week beginning Monday 13 March was a busy one in the accounting industry. In Melbourne on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 was the latest edition of Accounting Business Expo. Then on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 was the inaugural edition of Accountex in Sydney. At...
Five great ideas for accountants from Matt the tree guy
As an accounting firm coach, consultant and mentor, most of you know I’m constantly looking at the world through the eyes of my accounting firm clients and looking for ideas wherever I go. A recent experience with Matt the tree guy provided a great reminder about some...
How accountants are using ChatGPT and why you should have a policy on its use
When I wrote about Chat GPT in December 2022 I described it as an indicator of the massive impact artificial intelligence is going to have a on how knowledge workers and others work. The events of the past three months have only reinforced that view. How accounting...
Task management done well – how can Microsoft tools (you are probably already paying for) help?
One of the workshops I run both inside firms and as a foundation module for my Manager Development Program, is Managing yourself and your priorities. (There is also an online self paced option in my online Learning Centre here.) It’s a fabulous workshop which helps...
Thoughts on attracting and retaining the right people for your firm – part 4 of 4
In my first article on this topic I shared my views on: Who the right people are Why getting them is so important Why attraction and retention matter How we got to this current position which is challenging for employers In my second article I shared a list of the key...
Setting goals for 2023
Many of you are aware I’m a big fan of goal setting. In July 2021 I wrote an article - Is goal setting useful? Drawing on the research I did with some colleagues in our Master of Business Coaching degree, I concluded that goal setting is very useful when done well....
Book Review – The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
It’s 10 years since this book by New York Times journalist Charles Duhigg was published. At its core it’s a book about the science of habits and how we can apply this understanding to help us establish good habits or change habits that are not serving us well. The...
What are you grateful for?
Connecting with gratitude helps us be more positive and motivated. It’s been a tough year, So I’m suggesting you take time to reflect on what you are grateful for. For me I am grateful for: Getting to do what I love – helping owners and managers run better accounting...