here’s what you’re looking for: steven sacks

will it work and does it make sense?

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals

earlier i discussed that engaging in what is considered conflict avoidance can undo the progress a firm has made. this can be because of complacency, frustration, intimidation or a host of other issues.

more: effective networking is an art | avoid last-minute deal making | business is about relationships | can a cpa firm be different in a changing market? | a rapidly changing business environment requires flexibility | another meeting?!?! … sigh | organizational trust: top-down and bottom-up | how can change management really produce change? | trust: one building block of success
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

some things are intuitively understood, but it’s those occasional sticky matters that tend to make situations unravel. establishing and keeping agreements helps to avoid confrontation; the one typically arising from someone promising to do something in a timely and complete manner and within a specified budget. even if the firm’s board casually agreed on a matter, something can go awry and threaten the direction of the firm.
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five questions to ask.

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals

cpa firms often believe the most crucial part of negotiations to close a deal happens at the final stage of talks. but in order to have a satisfactory conclusion, you must set the tone at the beginning stage with an honest and forthcoming discussion based on mutual benefit – with an underpinning of respect and trust.

more: five common negotiating mistakes | courtesy still matters | bigger firm, bigger thinking | 5 steps to better time management | swot’s the purpose? | is your firm’s culture a magnet or a repellent?
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

for young professionals, it is never too early to evaluate your negotiation aptitude. think about this as a process with key milestones. this gives you the chance to make modifications along the way and to avoid the last-minute pressures of bargaining that can remove the advantages you have created. adhering to a game plan will reduce the chances of objections from the other party, or even worse, the backing out of an arrangement that you considered to be a “lock.” this can be applied to discussions involving a promotion or a pay increase.
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you’re after success, not a “win.”

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals

we enter into negotiations every day without realizing it, whether it is on a professional or personal basis. irrespective of whether it is a contractual transaction between a company and vendor or if a husband and wife are deciding on which couch to buy, each side is seeking to gain something. neither side may get everything it wants because an all-or-nothing-at-all approach will be a barrier to making any progress.

more: courtesy still matters | business is about relationships | can a cpa firm be different in a changing market? | a rapidly changing business environment requires flexibility | another meeting?!?! … sigh | organizational trust: top-down and bottom-up | how can change management really produce change? | trust: one building block of success
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

negotiating involves getting and keeping agreements that work for all parties. you can reach an agreement but the issue is whether you can maintain the agreement and the relationship built around it. both sides need to have a sense of “victory” or at the very least, feel they have not lost, because if this should occur then further conflict will result.
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why aren’t you more successful? make sure this isn’t the reason.

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals

technology has overtaken the traditional forms of communication that include face-to-face interaction, telephone conversations and of course, the handwritten or typed note slipped into an envelope, affixed with a stamp and dropped in the mailbox.

more: business is about relationships | reaching for authenticity in client service | deadlines? ha! don’t make me laugh | organizational change starts and ends with people | busyness isn’t the same as productivity | staff orientation: a little investment goes a long way
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

but wait. how can professionals succeed if the situation calls for in-person interaction if they have not been given the necessary training in the art of a conversation? whether you are involved in a job interview or entertaining a potential client over a meal, how you exercise the appropriate behavior will determine whether a relationship is forged or tossed on the pile of failed results.
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there’s no secret sauce.

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals

business can usually be conducted by phone, videoconference or in person. it really doesn’t matter the approach; what is important is how you comport yourself – irrespective of whether the individual(s) with whom you are dealing are superiors, peers or subordinates. i can’t tell you how many times i have witnessed conversations that were best conducted behind closed doors. the old adage of praise in public, criticize in private is underused or completely ignored.

more: reaching for authenticity in client service | bigger firm, bigger thinking | 5 steps to better time management | swot’s the purpose? | is your firm’s culture a magnet or a repellent? | building teamwork under covid pressure
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

when did we fall down on practicing the basics of common courtesy: returning phone calls, knocking before entering an office or saying “excuse me” when certain situations call for it?
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technology is a tool, not an end result.

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals

do you ever wonder if events you attend have an air of authenticity around them or are they simply staged? what about the options offered on new cars or the latest and greatest upgrades to a tech gadget? is the hype greater than the actual product? is what is considered innovation really just an incremental change that competitors can duplicate, albeit with minor modifications?

more: bigger firm, bigger thinking | can a cpa firm be different in a changing market? | a rapidly changing business environment requires flexibility | another meeting?!?! … sigh
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

as for professional services firms, are they providing a unique service in a unique fashion? today, clients are looking at the cost of traditional audit and tax work. because they are commoditized services, the decision is price-driven, so lowballing becomes routine for firms.
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