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

7 tips to keep your head up.

by steven e. sacks

how many times have we heard the expression “fake it ‘til you make it”? it usually involves those who have secured positions in companies where they feel they are not up to the challenge.

more: working remotely shouldn’t mean feeling isolated | getting and keeping the best: the struggle continues | performance reviews: no need to pull teeth | knowledge maintenance: gaining employee buy-in | how does your firm leverage its talent? | the lost art of the interview | the 5 keys to success in accounting careers
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people feel that they have to work doubly or triply as hard as others lest they be discovered that they are not qualified. if you are one of them and you exhausted yourself to the point of unhealthy habits to achieve something, you may not get that warm, fuzzy feeling of confidence that you can do it again. if the same assignment was given to someone else, you firmly believe he or she could do it as capably, quickly, better and more efficiently.
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it’s a two-way street.

by steven e. sacks

the conference board indicates that slightly over half (51%) of u.s. workers are satisfied with their jobs. but this means a not-too-insignificant amount (49%) are less than satisfied with their jobs.

more: how engaged are your employees? | performance reviews: no need to pull teeth | knowledge maintenance: gaining employee buy-in | the new way to handle exit interviews
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

job dissatisfaction is not a new occurrence, and with the increased influence of technology, this issue has not experienced much improvement over the past 15 to 20 years. a recent study by job seeker nation indicated that 82 percent of workers would like to seek new employment opportunities, although the prospects of landing a new one would be more difficult than over the past couple of years.
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you might not like surveys, but you might need one.

by steven e. sacks

while the consideration of succession planning has taken up a lot of airtime in recent years, there is something even more important to consider and that is how to attract and retain talent.

more: performance reviews: no need to pull teeth | have you gauged your staff’s enthusiasm? | why knowledge maintenance is key | retention starts with the hiring interview | the new way to handle exit interviews
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

questions most often asked by a cpa firm managing partner when someone leaves:

• did we see this coming?
• did he/she express any dissatisfaction?
• do you know if it was a money or promotion issue?
• was there something we could have done to head this off?

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consider the power of “you.”

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals: practical guidance for today’s accounting firms

firms either employ a formalized, thoughtful and comprehensive approach to evaluate employees, or they just use their gut instinct on a timeline that is not consistent. in any event, the amount of effort expended will yield a proportionate return on investment.

more: have you gauged your staff’s enthusiasm? | managing difficult personalities in the workplace | set your staff on the right course | how motivation is like bathing | be a talent magnet | make crap a badge of honor | the job interview: a make or break proposition | 10 elements to balancing shareholders’ needs
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there are, however, situations in which companies go overboard in their quest to acquire information and deliver their findings through a process that is slow and plodding.
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you should be eager for this feedback, not dreading it.

by steven e. sacks

have you ever conducted a job satisfaction survey of your firm’s staff?

more: managing difficult personalities in the workplace | knowledge maintenance: gaining employee buy-in | how does your firm leverage its talent? | the lost art of the interview | the 5 keys to success in accounting careers | the holy grail: finding the right talent | the power of ‘real influence’ | stop wasting time in useless meetings | is your firm’s culture a magnet? | outsourcing the c-suite
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

every so often you should conduct a survey that asks anything ranging from clarity of purpose and level of commitment to flexibility and advancement. it costs nothing to do but will yield important anecdotal data to be addressed by senior leadership. you may find that staff wants more input on developing business or increased exposure to clients and customers.
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5 “usual suspects” and how to manage them.

by steven e. sacks

let’s admit it: not everyone in a cpa firm can be your cup of tea. this is because of the different experiences your co-workers have, their cultural differences, biases, personal agendas and of course, diverse personalities.

more: knowledge maintenance: gaining employee buy-in | why knowledge maintenance is key | retention starts with the hiring interview | the new way to handle exit interviews | who’ll quit next? | strengthen your firm’s screening practices | smart trust in the workplace | what aspiring accountants need to know | improve job satisfaction or it’ll cost your firm
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

and the challenges faced by these differences are not limited to senior leadership or those who function in a supervisory role. what types are the usual suspects?
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they’re going to leave. pick their brains first.

by steven e. sacks

i’ve discussed the importance of collecting and storing institutional knowledge in the event of employee illness, resignation, relocation and acquisition. not to be overlooked is to have the support of your employees to make this endeavor successful.

more: why knowledge maintenance is key | set your staff on the right course | how motivation is like bathing | be a talent magnet | make crap a badge of honor | the job interview: a make or break proposition | 10 elements to balancing shareholders’ needs
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

employees will want to know how it will personally benefit them, because after all, this is another function you have assigned them. you need a deft touch in explaining that documenting their experience and knowledge is not a “chore,” it is an integral component for preventing disruptions to operations during times of change – both anticipated and unanticipated.
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don’t let systems and processes leave with your employees.

by steven e. sacks

there are nearly 80 million baby boomers today, and this cohort ranging from ages 55 to 73 is projected by the u.s. census bureau to reach 83.7 million in the year 2050. by 2030, more than 20 percent of u.s. residents are projected to be aged 65 and over, compared with 13 percent in 2010 and 9.8 percent in 1970.

more: set your staff on the right course | how does your firm leverage its talent? | the lost art of the interview | the 5 keys to success in accounting careers | stop wasting time in useless meetings | is your firm’s culture a magnet?
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

a large part of this growth is because of the aging of baby boomers (individuals born in the united states between mid-1946 and mid-1964), who began turning 65 in 2011 and are now driving growth at the older ages of the population. as one source in 2016 put this into perspective, every day, 10,000 people turn 65. there are more than personal financial issues at stake here.
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help them develop soft skills.

by steven e. sacks

in the famous words found in alice in wonderland, “if you don’t know where you are going, any road can take you there.”

more: how does your firm leverage its talent? | retention starts with the hiring interview | the new way to handle exit interviews | who’ll quit next? | strengthen your firm’s screening practices | smart trust in the workplace | what aspiring accountants need to know
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

this is a lesson alice learned much to her frustration. this, too, can be frustrating for professionals entering the workforce, especially in cpa firms. firms often are not clear about establishing and communicating expectations for their new hires. the focus on billable hours takes precedence over building professional and personal growth.
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five questions you can’t say “no” to.

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals

with millennials representing 35 percent of today’s workforce, 50 percent in the next couple of years and 75 percent by 2030, the career mindset will shift even more toward moving onward and upward – and out.

more: retention starts with the hiring interview | how motivation is like bathing | be a talent magnet | make crap a badge of honor | the job interview: a make or break proposition | 10 elements to balancing shareholders’ needs | a leader’s guide to ending entitlement
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unless you are a business owner, the days of 40-year employees have disappeared.

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ask about real-life situations and look for fit, not personality.

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals: practical guidance for today’s accounting firms

what are your strengths and weaknesses? all potential hires are asked this. if you had to plan for these two questions, what would you do to be ready to respond?

more: how motivation is like bathing | the lost art of the interview | the 5 keys to success in accounting careers | the holy grail: finding the right talent | the power of ‘real influence’ | stop wasting time in useless meetings | is your firm’s culture a magnet? | outsourcing the c-suite | getting the accounting firm agreement right | today’s workplace challenge: communicating across generations, cultures, and diversity | negotiate for success, not a ‘win’ | does busyness really mean productivity?
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

there have been scores of books offering guidance on interview preparation; what to avoid; how to turn a negative to a positive; and skillfully and persuasively transform what you perceive to be a weakness into a strength.
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