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Leadership

Leadership - An Essential Skill For Success 


Rule with an iron fist. Not so much.

There’s nothing like the perks of power. At least until that first unpleasant problem gets lobbed over the wall and lands at your feet.

Leadership, as you may have already discovered, can be tricky. It requires knowing how to do things like resolve conflicts before situations get ugly. And how not to do things like rely on military-style command-and-control. In fact, understanding the difference between leadership and authority – and learning to improve the former by being frugal with the latter – may be the biggest eye-opener of all.

As with most “Essential Skills For Success”, leadership is something that has to be learned – even “natural-born leaders” don’t know everything. And the best time to start preparing to take the wheel is before you actually have to turn the ship. (Depending on your work environment, you could find yourself thrust into a position of leadership at almost any time, even if it’s “just” a small project or assignment. So you should be prepared to seize opportunity whenever it crosses your path.)

One good way to learn is by searching out the effective leaders in your organization; find a mentor and watch what they do. Another good way is to take advantage of the wellspring of leadership wisdom conveniently assembled here. And when you feel like you’re ready to take the next step, consider applying for the AICPA Leadership Academy – a selective program designed to identify and inspire new generations of leaders.

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Management by Delegation Learn to Let Go

Article What’s your management style? At some point – if you want to effectively lead a project or team and have more time for other projects – you have to learn how to delegate to others. Does letting to mean losing control? Here are eight ways to help you lead, organize
Published on April 10, 2013

Four Pillars of Effective Leadership

Article True leadership is never based on formal authority. The best business leaders model behavior and leverage informal networks and passive persuasion to harness cross-organization energy and affect positive change.  This article discusses four pillars of effective leadership.
Published on September 24, 2012

Just Say It! Hello, Guten Tag, Shalom, Hola

Newsletter How hard is to say hello or good morning to someone you don’t know? Why is this important, especially if there’s no immediate perceived benefit? You might be surprised. What do you have to lose?
Published on July 06, 2012

How to Seek Consensus

Article Admired leaders walk a fine line between being buddy-buddy and serving as a benevolent dictator, yet these same leaders know that motivating teams in the workplace is all about reaching a consensus. Learn how to get what you want and help others around you feel better about an outcome.
Published on June 07, 2012

From Cubester to Supervisor Making a Solid Transition

Article An interview with Daniel Travis, a CPA with PKF Texas in Houston, who was promoted to supervisor.  Learn how he made the leap and in what ways he adjusted his outlook and expectations.
Published on May 15, 2012

Six Ways to Improve Your Writing

Article Sometimes, the only way to get better at doing something is by just doing it. While effective leaders might share certain traits, most of them have one thing in common: solid writing skills. Discover six ways to improve your writing. You’ll be surprised how easy it may be.
Published on March 22, 2012

12 Tips to Better PowerPoint Presentations

Article In December, we offered several tips and tricks for more effective presentations. Readers asked for help in making their PowerPoint presentations more effective. Here is some very useful advice to turn your presentations from “Ho-hum” to “Wow, do I see your point.”
Published on February 09, 2012

Presentation Tips and Tricks That Work

Article If you think you’re the only one of your peers who gets stage fright, think again! Whether you present to clients and customers, or internally within your firm or company, learn a few presentation tips and tricks guaranteed to help you improve and find the self-confidence you need to succeed.
Published on December 14, 2011

Developing a Personal Relationship With a Client Its All About Trust

Article When prospects convert to clients and customers—and stay with your organization for many years—it’s usually because you and your colleagues offered accounting services and support that is valued and appreciated.
Published on October 26, 2011

Maintaining a Non-Biased Workplace

Article Do you foster an inclusive work environment? As a supervisor, future team leader, or partner, the way you perceive people of different gender, lifestyle, and race can have a very positive, or sometimes negative, impact on your hiring decisions, annual evaluation reviews, and other areas.
Published on October 19, 2011

Three Ways to Achieve Higher Sales

Article Okay, so you’re not selling actual “products,” but you are selling “services.” Whether you work in a firm or a company, every one of us have to take part in the selling function. It’s all about starting early, establishing your value, and finding the right opportunities.
Published on September 19, 2011

Dealing with a Diverse Workplace

Article Diversity is not the exception; it’s the norm. Still, you can’t learn how to deal with diverse cultures, outlooks and attitudes by reading a company manual. Learn how to use common sense and listening to set an example others will admire and follow.
Published on August 25, 2011

Playing an Active Role in Change Management

Article People who say they “like” change are few and far between! Yet, we all must endure changes in our firms or companies on a very regular basis. Don’t sit in the bleachers watching change happen around you; learn how to take an active role and make a difference.
Published on July 06, 2011

Making Change Happen One Day at a Time

Article Want to change the world? Great! There’s no better place to do this than in your firm or company. How can you make a difference? Learn how to champion your idea from a blue-sky concept and turn it into a real game-changer.
Published on May 18, 2011

How Leadership Skills Can Aid Local Organizations

Article Serving on a committee or leadership position at the local level is good for your career and good for your employer, but how much time should you devote to these kinds of activities and what’s the ROI?
Published on April 15, 2011

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