pandemic means there’s no room for those who can’t embrace change.
by angie grissom
the working from home mandate has changed the way people think, work and communicate and has accelerated the move by four to five years (at least) over what i think would have happened without the pandemic. this has impacted the adoption of technology (teams, zoom, adobe connect, etc.) and has shown team members what works and what doesn’t work.
more: remote work is more productive | we’re in the fast lane… can your partners keep up? | survey: 2020’s disruptions are only the beginning | covid brought us more and better client communication
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people now know how and where they are the most effective. clients are also seeing accounting providers as more essential and more as advisors, especially those dealing with the ppp loans and other programs that assist them with staying afloat during this time.
leaders are finding new ways to
- train their people (hybrid of in-person and virtual),
- connect with their teams in meaningful ways and
- serve clients well remotely
and i think this will stick.
leaders are seeing the agility of teams and the absolute necessity for emergency preparedness like never before.
firm leaders need to plan for “what ifs” as it relates to their business model, teams and client needs. planning must include all of these things. firms will begin to be run more like businesses and non-compliant or non-productive partners will not be tolerated. change resistors must become more open to change. everyone must contribute at a high level and consistently strong team member and client communication will be a non-negotiable moving forward in order for firms to thrive. there is little to no room for those who coast or do not contribute, no matter how long they have been in the firm.
firms were investing in the development of their people more in 2019 than i noticed before. in-house training and development programs customized for their firms have been on the rise.
while firms have continued to struggle with finding the right mix of staff in terms of experience and contribution, the focus on taking care of their people has been stronger than in previous years. this includes investment in technology, specialized personnel and also a focus on creating a culture of growth, profitability and accountability from the top down. firms continue to struggle with profit margins as costs rise and competition increases. the need to create a differentiated client and team member experience is critical.