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the “best” isn’t enough. “unique” is the secret ingredient.<\/strong><\/p>\n in his new book, \u201cleading from the edge \u2013 creating a standout, high-performing organization<\/a>,\u201d anthony zecca focuses on the type of leadership that accounting firms need to succeed in a future driven by seismic disruptors.\u00a0 this is the first in a series of articles that will focus on key aspects of \u201cedge leadership\u201d and the challenges most accounting firm leaders (all leaders for that matter) are facing today. the next article will focus on \u201cthe art of leadership \u2013 empowerment\u201d.\u00a0 empowerment without accountability is like making ice without water \u2013 can\u2019t be done.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n by anthony zecca<\/em> strategy: so much has been written about it and how to create it. harvard’s michael porter famously said strategy is best based on being unique, and not being the best.<\/p>\n more on the edge leader:<\/strong> is your team climbing the right wall?<\/a> | how to build a standout team<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0competing for talent in a private-equity world<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0five keys to becoming a high-performing firm<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/b>assessing your firm<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0the 4 traits of great cpa leaders<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0why leaders must ensure clarity<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0incremental vs. exceptional success<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0do you lead or just manage?<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0managing vs. leading<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0is your leadership team at the edge?<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a06 leadership challenges through covid and beyond<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0edge leaders share 7 strengths<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0leadership must drive culture<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0leading from the edge<\/a> sounds crazy but the following quote (slightly modified) is what i think aligns with how an edge leader will think about strategy:<\/p>\n \u201cstrategy starts with thinking the right way about competition. many managers (leaders) compete to be \u201cthe best\u201d\u2014but this is a dangerous mindset that leads to a destructive, zero-sum competition that no one can win. competing to be unique, on the other hand, is the basis of a sound business strategy…\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n how many firms go through the annual ritual of budgeting and partner retreats that in the end, at best, create some tactics that might improve the firm\u2019s results incrementally?\u00a0 how many leaders at these firm retreats focus on tactics versus strategy?\u00a0 how many leaders think that developing long-term strategies (3 to 5 years) is unproductive given the challenge of thinking about the future so far down the road?\u00a0 finally, how many leaders, when strategy is discussed, focus on being the best versus being unique?<\/p>\n think about it this way.\u00a0 focusing on being the best, however you define that, will result in competing on being better than your competitor firms and position your firm in the crowd.\u00a0 focusing on being unique will create a strategy that truly separates you from the competition which creates a much stronger competitive advantage.\u00a0 the challenge is how can any accounting firm be truly \u201cunique?\u201d\u00a0 therein lies a key characteristic of an edge leader.<\/p>\n the edge leader will:<\/p>\n being unique is not about offering services that are different.\u00a0 it means offering and delivering services in a way that most competitors just don\u2019t.\u00a0 so many firms talk about their \u201cvalue proposition\u201d and for too many it is just words on a poster, or on a website or glossy brochure.\u00a0 most firms and leaders miss the strategic imperative of creating a value proposition that is based on what the target client wants and needs (client-centric) versus what the firm offers (firm-centric).\u00a0 i guarantee if you ask your partners what the firm\u2019s value proposition means to clients<\/em> most will fumble trying to explain it.\u00a0 edge leaders ensure that every partner will clearly and convincingly communicate the firm\u2019s value proposition in words that are client-centric and not firm-centric.\u00a0 edge leaders understand that value is in the eyes of the client.\u00a0 when a firm\u2019s value proposition is based on helping the client be more successful versus how to make the firm more successful, that firm will win every time and become that sustainable, high-performing firm.<\/p>\n as you think about strategy and how to transform your firm into a standout, high-performing firm based on being unique<\/em>, think about the following from prof. porter (slightly modified):<\/p>\n
\nleading from the edge<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
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exclusively for pro members.\u00a0<\/strong>log in here<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a02022世界杯足球排名 today<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
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