The WhIP Journal
October 2005 Power Your Practice – THE WhIP JOURNAL [What Helps In Practice]
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In This Issue:
- WHERE YOU LEAD, I WILL FOLLOW – Emerging Leadership
- THAT IS SUCH A GOOD THOUGHT…
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WHERE YOU LEAD, I WILL FOLLOW – Emerging Leadership
The conductor had only worked with them for two days, two long days, but you would have thought they had worked together for months. They were so in tune with her, so careful to respond to her every direction, so eager to work hard and perform well. They all played their best, these musicians playing the flutes, the clarinets, the trumpets, the tubas, the trombones, the saxophones (my favorite played by my talented 16yr old stepson) and even the ’rebels’ wearing white t-shirts instead of button-down white collars on the percussion instruments.
She had earned their respect and captured their passion, in just two days. Beautiful music was the result, and a group of young high school musicians were all the richer for the experience of working with a true professional leader. There’s a great lesson here for business leaders. How do you conduct your band of followers?
Does your team follow your lead, like a band follows their conductor?
The band can only play as well as their conductor leads.
Your team can only perform as well as you can lead.
Sure everyone can work/play individually, but being able to work/play well as a group requires a skilled conductor who is leading.
Following this analogy, would someone think of your firm as a symphony worthy of playing Carnegie Hall or a bunch of noise destined to stay in the garage or basement?
[See the invitation below for a full day to focus on your leadership/conducting skills]
Most sole-practitioners and partners are stressed to the limits from managing all of the elements of growing a successful firm. No matter how well you manage, there are always new challenges and new stresses. Conducting a symphony with your team often seems out of reach.
Making the time to recharge, re-evaluate, and re-think your leadership direction is absolutely critical to continuing growth and success. A strong commitment to your personal and leadership growth is vital to your future.
“Your people can only be as healthy as you are. They can only be as strong as you are. So your first responsibility as a leader—if you want to be effective, that is—is to feed yourself before you feed anyone else.” The Starving Baker, by John C. Maxwell
Many leaders find it difficult to devote time to themselves and leadership development.
PD course are most often centered on professional development from an accounting and standards perspective. Of course, these are important and vital to your continued success. However, in addition to this type of PD course, you should also deliberately seek out leadership development courses. These are just as critical to your success.
Let us quickly look at two perspectives about leadership in business today:
1) From staff:
A recent survey released from www.Monster.ca entitled “Rate Your Boss” has stated that most ‘bosses’ in Canada are not rated very highly. As a matter of fact, most are rated fair to poor.
What would your team rate you?
According to the Monster survey, only two accountants were listed in Ontario (that I could find) as ‘good’ bosses. Congratulations to:
Mami Goto / Senior Tax Manager, Ernst & Young LLP, Toronto
and
Edward Collis / Grande Fromage, Collis & Weitzman, C.A.'s, Burlington
(His unusual title might give us some indication as to what makes him a good boss…)
2) From your peers:
Strategic Crossroads for the CA Profession
Report of the Council of Senior Executives’ Strategic Planning Task Force October 2004 http://www.cica.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/24776/la_id/1.htm
SUGGESTIONS FROM RESPONDENTS: (CA’s)
CAs should work on their skills in:
leadership, strategic thinking, influence and negotiations.
To acquire these competencies, it is necessary to work on oneself, not only on skills.
Therefore, more emphasis should be placed on personal development / growth, on public speaking, on leadership assertion, on work team management, on influencing people and decisions, and on negotiation abilities.
If CAs do not position themselves as value creators, CMAs and CFAs will.
SO – there’s work to be done in the leadership department of accounting professionals….
“We're going to see leadership emerge as the most important element of business - the attribute that is highest in demand and shortest in supply.”
By Tom Peters Rule #3: Leadership Is Confusing as Hell
http://www.fastcompany.com/online/44/rules2.html
Join me for an “EMERGING LEADERSHIP RETREAT”
[Retreat: to withdraw…a place of privacy….to study]
What we’ll study:
Leadership development involves:
-Confidence building on a personal and professional level
-Elegant strategies and simple plans for growth
-Clarifying and simplifying your work and your life
-Overcoming the sense you don’t want to grow because you can’t manage what you have now
-Marketing and knowing how to tell clients and prospective clients about your firm
-Time Management as the critical skill needed by everyone and few can do very well
-Analyzing your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats on an ongoing basis.
-Understanding how you sell your services reflects on how you do business.
-Communicating and listening to build trust and respect
-Attracting and retaining the best Team members whether you’re a duet or a full orchestra
-Assessing performance and inspiring greatness
When, where and how much will it cost to withdraw and focus on emerging leadership:
Thursday December 1st, 2005 from 9:30am-4:30pm, in Vaughan, ON.
Cost is $129.00/person, beverages and lunch included.
Deadline to register is Friday November 4th, 2005.
Space is Limited to 20 participants, so don’t delay!
Contact me by email debra@poweryourpractice.com or phone 905-951-9773, TF 1-888-272-2735
I look forward to seeing you!
THAT IS SUCH A GOOD THOUGHT…
Thoughts worth reading, thinking, repeating and embracing.
“Leaders don't force people to follow— they invite them on a journey.”
Charles S. Lauer
I hope you’ve found value in this month’s copy of THE WhIP JOURNAL.
My best regards to you,
Debra Dowdell
For more information, or to share your firm’s story please contact:
Bus: 905-951-9773 Toll-free: 888-272-2735 Fax: 905-951-9956
57 Goodfellow Crescent Bolton, ON L7E 5X6
This is an Opt-in No-Fee monthly ezine/newsletter from Debra Dowdell. You are receiving this because you have subscribed to it. You may unsubscribe or change your information at any time at Details@PowerYourPractice.com. Your information will never be given away, sold, or rented. Ever. Thank you.
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Power Your Practice does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of any statement or other information and materials provided in this newsletter. All articles and other information and materials in this newsletter are provided for general information purposes only.