Leadership

Learning: The Key to the Seven Keys

By Jean Marie Caragher

Leading in Times of Uncertainty

By Jason Boltax

The Seven Keys to Successful CPA Firm Management is based on research conducted by Capstone Marketing and Rick Telberg, Bay Street Group LLC, over the past several years, including thousands of survey responses and interviews with leading authorities. Our research identifies the best practices and common characteristics that separate the competitively successful firms from the not-so-successful firms. We’re calling them “The Leaders vs. The Laggards.” The Seven Keys to Successful CPA Firm Management are: 1. Leadership and management 2. Technology trends 3. Marketing and business development 4. Client service and satisfaction 5. Creating a great place to work 6. Building the learning organization 7. Strategy execution In addition, the research revealed learning as the common denominator of highly effective, high-performing firms. Key World Class Learning Organizations A Seven Keys CPA “World-Class Learning Organization” is defined as those multi-person public accounting firms that supplied “Always/All

Continued on page 8

n the current economy, leaders continue to be faced with challenges that stretch their abilities and skills. Effective leaders need to be adaptable to change in order to lead their companies in the right direction. What do you as a leader need to know? An effective leader possesses purpose, courage, and trust in the face of uncertainty. Purpose provides clear direction. It is the energetic “magnet” that pulls people together and points them in a similar direction. Courage provides strength and commitment. Trust in ourselves and our purpose overcomes doubt. Some say that in order to move forward, one must look back to the lessons of successful leaders of the past and, in particular, get back to basics. According to Warren Bennis, a well-known American scholar and organizational consultant in leadership studies, there are approximately 850...